Russia and Japan have still not officially ended World War II hostilities because of a standoff over islands off Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido, known in Russia as the Kuril Islands and in Japan as the Northern Territories. The islands were captured by the Soviets at the end of World War II.
“Under the current conditions, Russia does not intend to continue negotiations with Japan for a peace treaty,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, citing Japan’s “openly unfriendly positions and attempts to damage our country’s interests.”
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he strongly opposed Russia’s decision, calling it “unfair” and “completely unacceptable”.
“This entire situation was created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and Russia’s response to project this onto Japan-Russia relations is grossly unfair and totally unacceptable,” he said, adding that Japan’s stance on the search for a peace treaty was unchanged and the Russian move protested.
“Japan must resolutely continue to sanction Russia in cooperation with the rest of the world,” he added.
Chief of Cabinet Hirokazu Matsuno said Japan had lodged a protest with the Russian ambassador in Tokyo.
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Japan last week announced plans to remove Russia’s most favored status in trade, expand the scope of asset freezes against Russian elites and ban imports of certain products.
Announcing the measures last week, Kishida said Japan will also work with international aid organizations to deliver food and medicines to Ukrainians. He added that Japan has started to take in evacuees from Ukraine and called on the public for support.
Last year President Vladimir Putin said that both Tokyo and Moscow wanted good relations and called it absurd that they had not reached a peace deal.
Russia has also withdrawn from talks with Japan on joint business projects in the Kuril Islands and ended visa-free travel for Japanese citizens, the statement said.