Japan condemns Putin's 'absolutely unacceptable' visit to disputed Kuril Islands

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida strongly condemned Russia's decision in March 2022 to terminate peace treaty negotiations and freeze joint economic projects concerning the disputed Kuril Islands, labeling the move as "unjust and absolutely unacceptable." This sharp diplomatic protest from Tokyo was a direct consequence of Japan imposing sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. Russia explicitly cited Japan's "openly unfriendly positions" as the reason for halting the long-standing talks.

The four southern Kuril Islands, which Japan refers to as its Northern Territories, have been a persistent point of contention between the two nations since the end of World War II, preventing the formal signing of a peace treaty. Japan has consistently maintained that these islands are its "inherent territory."

Prime Minister Kishida emphasized that Russia's actions were an unfair response to a situation created by its own invasion of Ukraine. Japan affirmed that its stance on resolving the territorial dispute and concluding a peace treaty remains unchanged, despite Russia's withdrawal from negotiations.