Japan condemns Ukraine war
Russia breaks off negotiations over Kuril Islands
03/21/2022, 8:43 p.m
Japan and Russia have still not signed a peace treaty to end hostilities in World War II. At the heart of the dispute are small islands in the Kuril archipelago. Moscow is now ending talks over Tokyo’s condemnation of the war against Ukraine.
The Russian government has announced that it is no longer pursuing peace talks with Japan to formally settle a dispute dating back to World War II. The reason given by the Foreign Ministry in Moscow was the “openly hostile attitude” that Japan had taken with regard to the Russian military operation in Ukraine. Russia and Japan have not signed a peace treaty since World War II.
Japan wants to “damage” Moscow’s interests with its stance on the Russian military operation in the neighboring country, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. It is therefore not possible for the Russian side to continue the talks. Russia and Japan did not sign a peace agreement after World War II because of a territorial conflict.
Russia’s cancellation of peace talks came two days after Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attempted to persuade the Indian government to condemn Russia’s military action in Ukraine during a visit to New Delhi. The Tokyo government had previously joined Western sanctions against Russia.
The dispute between Russia and Japan is about four small islands in the Kuril archipelago. The Soviet Army had taken the islands in the last days of World War II. Japan wants the islands returned.
Just over two weeks ago, Japan’s government renewed its territorial claims. Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi described the four disputed islands as “an integral part” of Japan, as reported by the Japanese daily “Sankei Shimbun”. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida had previously used this formulation.