Japan responded angrily on Tuesday after Russia withdrew from peace treaty discussions with Tokyo and halted cooperation economic projects relating to the disputed Kuril Islands as a result of Tokyo's sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Because of the standoff over islands immediately off Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido, known in Russia as the Kurils and in Japan as the Northern Territories, Russia and Japan have yet to formally conclude World War II hostilities. At the end of World War II, the Soviets took the islands.
"Under the current circumstances, Russia does not intend to continue peace treaty negotiations with Japan," the Russian Foreign Ministry stated in a statement, blaming Japan's "openly hostile statements and attempts to harm our country's interests."
Fumio Kishida, Japan's prime minister, expressed his strong opposition to Russia's move, calling it "unfair" and "totally unacceptable.""Russia's response to thrust this onto Japan-Russia relations is exceedingly unjust and utterly unacceptable," he said, adding that Japan's sentiments toward reaching a peace treaty had not changed and that the Russian approach had been protested.
"Japan must remain steadfast in its sanctions on Russia in collaboration with the rest of the world," he stressed.On March 16, an overhead view of the disputed islands known in Russia as the Kurils and Japan as the Northern Territories.
Japan had submitted a protest with Russia's envoy in Tokyo, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno.
In response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Japan said last week that it would rescind Russia's most-favored nation designation, broaden asset freezes against Russian elites, and ban the import of certain items.
When the restrictions were announced last week, Kishida stated that Japan will work with foreign assistance organizations to send food and medicine to Ukrainians. He also stated that Japan has begun receiving Ukrainian evacuees and requested public assistance.
President Vladimir Putin stated last year that both Tokyo and Moscow desired good relations and that it was foolish that a peace agreement had not been achieved.
According to the statement, Russia has also terminated visa-free travel for Japanese citizens and withdrawn from talks with Japan about joint business projects on the Kuril Islands.
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