A long‑standing territorial dispute: Japanese PM expresses desire to sign peace treaty with Russia

Japan’s government maintains its position on resolving the “territorial issue” with Russia and signing a peace treaty, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in a speech to parliament on the occasion of her inauguration, according to TASS.

“Although Japan‑Russia relations are currently complex, the government’s stance remains unchanged: to resolve the territorial issue and conclude a peace treaty,” she stated.

At the same time, the Japanese leader again criticized Russia’s actions in Ukraine, stressing the urgent need to end the conflict.

Moscow and Tokyo have been conducting negotiations since the mid‑20th century with the aim of concluding a peace treaty following World War II. The main obstacle to an agreement remains the disagreement over rights to the southern Kuril Islands. After the war, the entire archipelago was incorporated into the Soviet Union, but Japan disputes the status of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and several smaller uninhabited islands.

Meanwhile, Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly stressed that Russian sovereignty over these territories, which is legally recognized under international law, is not subject to question.