"Russia: 'Suspension of Peace Treaty Negotiations with Japan, Responsibility Lies Entirely with Japan'"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Russian government announced that it will suspend negotiations on a peace treaty with Japan. This move is interpreted as an effort to pressure Japan, which is actively imposing sanctions on Russia alongside the United States and the West, while simultaneously checking both the U.S. and Japan in the Northeast Asia region. The Japanese government immediately protested, stating that it cannot accept the suspension of negotiations.

According to Russia's TASS news agency on the 21st (local time), the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement titled "Response Measures to the Decision of the Japanese Government." In the statement, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, "Due to Japan's unilateral sanctions against Russia related to the Ukraine situation, we are suspending negotiations on the conclusion of a peace treaty with Japan," adding, "We cannot discuss the conclusion of a basic bilateral treaty with a country that openly takes a hostile attitude and harms our national interests."

The Russian Foreign Ministry further announced, "We have decided to suspend visa-free visits by Japanese citizens under the 1991 agreement on visa-free visits between Russia's Southern Kuril Islands and Japan, as well as the 1999 agreement simplifying the procedures for former residents of the Southern Kuril Islands to visit their hometowns." Additionally, Russia threatened to suspend the extension of Japan's sectoral dialogue partner status in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) organization.

The reason behind Russia's tough measures is interpreted as a warning against Japan's sanctions on Russia. The Russian government harshly criticized Japan for leading the U.S. and Western sanctions against Russia, stating that Japan has currently imposed import bans on 49 Russian companies and 300 items. The Russian Foreign Ministry said, "The responsibility for damages to bilateral cooperation and Japan's interests lies with the Japanese government, which has deliberately chosen an anti-Russian course," attributing all the deterioration in relations to Japan's sanctions against Russia.

Japan is protesting Russia's unilateral measures. According to NHK, the Japanese Embassy in Moscow issued a statement expressing regret, saying, "The decision to unilaterally suspend peace treaty negotiations is extremely regrettable and unacceptable."

Japan and Russia have not yet signed an official peace agreement since they fought a war just before the end of World War II in 1945. In particular, the Japanese government demands the return of the four Southern Kuril Islands?Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai?which Russia occupied during World War II, and has been continuously negotiating with the Russian side.

Meanwhile, Russia is evaluated to be pursuing a strategy to check the military activities of the U.S. and Japan in the Northeast Asia region following its invasion of Ukraine. Earlier on the 11th, Russia conducted surface-to-air missile drills using the S-300 missile defense system around the Southern Kuril Islands, which Japan protested against.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.