Tokyo reiterates goal of peace treaty with Moscow
World
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has stated that Japan remains committed to concluding a peace treaty with Russia despite what she described as the “difficult state” of bilateral relations.
Speaking in a policy address to the lower house of parliament, Takaichi said the government’s course remains unchanged: to resolve the territorial issue and achieve a formal peace agreement with Moscow.
The absence of a peace treaty has overshadowed relations since World War II. In 1956, the Soviet Union and Japan signed a Joint Declaration in which Moscow agreed to consider transferring the Habomai and Shikotan islands after a peace treaty was concluded, while the status of Kunashir and Iturup was not addressed.
Subsequent negotiations failed to produce a treaty. Russia maintains that the islands became part of the Soviet Union following World War II and that Russian sovereignty over them is not subject to revision.
After Japan imposed sanctions on Russia over the situation in Ukraine, Russia’s Foreign Ministry in March 2022 announced the suspension of peace treaty talks, the termination of visa-free travel for Japanese citizens to the southern Kurils, and withdrawal from dialogue on joint economic activities there.
Despite these developments, Tokyo says it remains ready to pursue discussions on a peace agreement.
The absence of a peace treaty has overshadowed relations since World War II. In 1956, the Soviet Union and Japan signed a Joint Declaration in which Moscow agreed to consider transferring the Habomai and Shikotan islands after a peace treaty was concluded, while the status of Kunashir and Iturup was not addressed.
Subsequent negotiations failed to produce a treaty. Russia maintains that the islands became part of the Soviet Union following World War II and that Russian sovereignty over them is not subject to revision.
After Japan imposed sanctions on Russia over the situation in Ukraine, Russia’s Foreign Ministry in March 2022 announced the suspension of peace treaty talks, the termination of visa-free travel for Japanese citizens to the southern Kurils, and withdrawal from dialogue on joint economic activities there.
Despite these developments, Tokyo says it remains ready to pursue discussions on a peace agreement.
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