News Lavrov: all territorial disputes between Japan and Russia over

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Monday that all territorial disputes between Moscow and other countries, including Japan, are "over." During an interview with the government-affiliated Channel One television network, Lavrov made the remark, which could be interpreted as suggesting Moscow will never talk with Tokyo about the issue of sovereignty over Russian-held islands off Hokkaido.

The former Soviet Union seized four islands after Japan's surrender in World War II, and disputes over their sovereignty have prevented Tokyo and Moscow from signing a postwar peace treaty. "We don't have any territorial rows with the NATO side," Lavrov said, referring to a recent remark by President Vladimir Putin that Russia recognizes no territorial issues with any NATO member. He continued, "Generally speaking, we don't have territorial disputes with any countries, including Japan."

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In March 2022, Russia said it would suspend negotiations with Japan over matters related to realizing a peace treaty, including the issue of Kunashiri, Etorofu and Shikotan islands, as well as the Habomai group of islets after Tokyo imposed sanctions against Moscow in response to its invasion of Ukraine. In an interview run by the Interfax news agency on Saturday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said it is impossible to negotiate with Japan over matters related to friendly cooperation while Tokyo's sanctions against Russia remain in place.

thomas said:

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said it is impossible to negotiate with Japan over matters related to friendly cooperation while Tokyo's sanctions against Russia remain in place.

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Actually, on this issue it's impossible to negotiate with Japan full stop. Negotiation means two parties with different interests coming to a common agreement and ceding some ground. Japan has never shifted from its 'we want all four islands back' stance despite offers from Russia (between 1956 to 2006) of returning the two smaller islands.