Russia’s refusal to discuss a peace treaty with Japan in the context of the Kuril Islands is historically justified. This was stated by Deputy Chairman of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev. In his Telegram-channel on March 22, he called such a decision balanced and fair.
“Obviously, we would never have found any consensus with the Japanese on the island topic. This was understood by both us and them. So the negotiations about the Kuriles have always been of a ritual nature. The new version of the Constitution of Russia directly states that the territories of our country are not subject to alienation. The matter is closed,” Medvedev wrote.
He called the inhabitants of Japan “proud independent samurai”, who, by introducing restrictions on the Russian Federation, demonstrated with which country, in which case, they would agree on a peace treaty. According to the deputy chairman, it is much more important to develop the Kuril Islands.
On the same day, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called Moscow’s decision to withdraw from the dialogue on a peace treaty “unacceptably cruel.”
Earlier, on March 21, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Russian Federation reported that Russia was refusing to negotiate a peace treaty with Japan. It is noted that this decision was made “taking into account the obvious unfriendly nature of the unilateral restrictions imposed by Japan against Russia in connection with the situation in Ukraine.”
Also, as a response to Tokyo’s actions, the Russian side stopped visa-free trips of Japanese citizens to the South Kuriles and withdrew from the dialogue with Japan on establishing joint economic activities on these islands.
On March 15, Japan imposed sanctions against 17 individuals from Russia. Among them are State Duma deputies, as well as businessmen and their relatives.
The next day, the Japanese prime minister noted that his country could experience a blow from counter-sanctions from the Russian Federation. He also said that his country “will not succumb to the threats of Russia” in order to show that it is in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and intends to “defend peace and order.”
As a result of World War II, Russia and Japan never signed a peace treaty. The main snag in reaching agreements is Tokyo’s claims to the South Kuriles. Japan still calls the islands of Kunashir, Iturup and a number of territories of the Lesser Kuril ridge its northern territories, although as a result of World War II they passed to the USSR.
Since 2014, the Ukrainian authorities have been conducting a military operation against the inhabitants of Donbass, who refused to recognize the results of the coup d’état in Ukraine. On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the launch of a special operation to protect the civilian population of the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics. A number of countries that disagree with its implementation began to introduce new anti-Russian sanctions.
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