Tensions between Russia and Japan continue to fester as Moscow reaffirms that peace treaty negotiations remain off the table until Tokyo changes its stance on Russia. The statement, delivered by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko, underscores the strained diplomatic relations between the two countries in the wake of Japan’s sanctions over the Ukraine conflict.
“They can talk about what they want until the cows come home. No talks are being held now. And there won’t be any until Japan changes its policy toward Russia,” Rudenko told TASS, firmly ruling out the possibility of any dialogue under the current circumstances.
The primary roadblock in signing a post-World War II peace treaty remains the longstanding territorial dispute over the South Kuril Islands. Known in Japan as the Northern Territories, these islands Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and the Habomai islets were seized by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II and have remained under Russian control ever since. Japan continues to assert its claim over the territory, which has been a significant sticking point for decades.
Despite the tension, Japan’s foreign ministry recently reiterated its commitment to eventually signing a peace treaty with Russia. However, the Kremlin has rebuffed this stance, with presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov stating that Japan’s “openly hostile” actions particularly its alignment with Western sanctions make negotiations impossible.
The last major attempt to resolve the territorial dispute was derailed in 2022 when Tokyo imposed unilateral sanctions on Moscow following the latter’s invasion of Ukraine. In response, Russia suspended peace talks, citing Japan’s alignment with anti-Russian policies as a violation of trust and diplomatic goodwill.
While both nations resumed diplomatic ties in 1956 through a joint declaration, a formal peace treaty has never been signed, leaving a historical chapter of World War II unresolved.
Russia has remained adamant that its sovereignty over the Kuril Islands is non-negotiable, citing international agreements. With both nations holding firm to their positions, the prospect of a peace treaty remains elusive, further complicating Russo-Japanese relations in an increasingly polarized global landscape.
