Japan's prime minister confirms intentions to work on peace treaty with Russia
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on January 24 that Tokyo remains committed to concluding a peace treaty with Russia after resolving differences.
"Japan-Russia relations are in a difficult state, but our country remains committed to resolving the territorial issue and concluding a peace treaty," he said in a keynote speech in parliament, which was published by the Nikkei newspaper.
Thus, the politician repeated the formulation, which he had already voiced in an address to lawmakers in November 2024.
Earlier, on January 20, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow would consider the possibility of restoring relations with Tokyo if the Japanese side backs up its initiatives with steps to renounce unfriendly actions. The Russian Federation is guided by the fact that there are politicians in Japan who realize the harm of the anti-Russian course, the ministry said.
The peace treaty between Russia and Japan was never signed after the end of World War II, in which Japan was on the side of Germany. Thus, in 1956, Japan and the USSR signed a joint declaration, according to which Moscow agreed to consider the transfer of Habomai and Shikotan to Tokyo, but for this it was necessary to conclude a peace treaty. At the same time, Japan itself did not give up its claims to all the islands of the Kuril Ridge.
The countries failed to reach an understanding on this issue. The Russian leadership's position is that Russia's sovereignty over the islands of Habomai and Shikotan is inviolable.
