Despite difficult relations between the two countries due to hostilities in Ukraine, Tokyo still expects to conclude a peace treaty with Moscow, Prime Minister Kishida said. The Russian Foreign Ministry called the territorial dispute closed.
Japan intends to continue its sanctions policy against Russia due to military actions in Ukraine and support Kyiv. But despite this, Tokyo still seeks to conclude a peace treaty with Moscow by resolving the territorial dispute. This was stated by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who delivered a keynote speech at the plenary session of the lower house of parliament. “Japanese-Russian relations have developed a difficult situation due to Russian aggression against Ukraine, but Japan remains firmly committed to the course aimed at solving territorial issue and the conclusion of a peace treaty,” the Prime Minister said
Japan and the Soviet Union, of which Russia became the legal successor, did not sign a peace treaty at the end of World War II due to a territorial dispute over the South Kuril Islands - the islands of Kunashir, Shikotan, Iturup and the Habomai ridge. Tokyo demands their return and calls them “illegally occupied.” Moscow believes that the territories became part of the USSR legally.
