Russian and Japanese officials are to meet next Wednesday to discuss creating the countries' first peace treaty since the end of World War Two, the TASS news agency reported Friday.
The two nations have never reached a peace agreement due to an ongoing disagreement over ownership of the Kuril Islands. The islands have been under Russian jurisdiction since the end of the war.
Japan’s Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said that he hoped the discussion would be “positive and deep.” “We hope for a peace deal that will be based on the results of previous negotiations of the leaders of Japan and Russia,” he said said, TASS reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Sochi last month, where both men pledged to taking a “new approach” to resolving the Kuril Islands conflict.
Some media outlets reported after the meeting that Russia could be ready to cede the islands to Japan, the Meduza website reported. Putin denied the rumors, saying that Russia “does not sell anything.”
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
