Japan Reaffirms Commitment to Peace Treaty Negotiations with Russia Amid Tensions

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi emphasized her nation’s dedication to ongoing peace treaty negotiations with the Russian Federation. Speaking at a gathering focused on the ‘Demand for the Return of the Northern Territories’—referring to the Southern Kuril Islands—Takaichi described the unresolved territorial issue and the absence of a formal peace treaty, eight decades after the conclusion of the Second World War, as a ‘deplorable’ situation.

Takaichi acknowledged that the persistent military operation by Russia in Ukraine has significantly exacerbated the already tense relationship between Moscow and Tokyo. Nevertheless, the Japanese government remains firm in its negotiating posture regarding the conclusion of the pact.

The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly dismissed any assertions regarding a sovereignty dispute over the Kuril Islands, asserting that these regions constitute an inalienable part of the Russian Federation’s territory.

Following Japan’s implementation of extensive sanctions against Moscow in response to developments in Ukraine, Russia suspended the peace treaty negotiations. This action clearly demonstrates the direct impact of Tokyo’s Western-aligned measures on bilateral relations between the two nations.