The Russian government announced it would call off the Russo-Japanese peace treaty negotiations, a move seen as a countermeasure against Tokyo’s economic sanctions in the aftermath of the war in Ukraine.
In a statement issued Monday, the Russian foreign ministry attacked Japan, saying that “under such conditions, (the Russian side) has no intention to continue peace treaty negotiations,” while asserting it is impossible to “discuss signing important documents with a country that takes a blatantly unfriendly attitude.”
The statement further said the responsibility for damaging bilateral relations “solely lies with the Japanese side, which has chosen an anti-Russian course.”
In response, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told the Japanese Diet on Tuesday, “the current situation all stems from Russia's invasion of Ukraine,” condemning Moscow’s latest moves as “extremely inappropriate and absolutely unacceptable.”
In the afternoon of the same day, Takeo Mori, Japan’s vice minister for foreign affairs, summoned the Russian ambassador in Tokyo, Mikhail Galuzin, and made an in-person protest. Japan will continue to impose sanctions against Russia and still maintain its basic strategy to solve the territorial rift and sign a peace pact, Kishida said.
As Russia began its military actions against Ukraine on Feb. 24, Japan joined other G-7 members in introducing a series of economic sanctions against the Kremlin, including a ban on semiconductor exports to Russia, removal of Russia’s status as a “most favored nation,” and the freezing of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s assets, among others.
The Russian statement also indicated that Moscow will withdraw from the framework of joint economic activities on the Northern Territories, known in Russia as the Southern Kurils. Moscow also announced it will halt the visa-free exchange program for former islanders, which began in 1992.
The Soviet Union occupied the disputed islands, located north of Hokkaido and south of the Kamchatka Peninsula, at the end of World War II. To date, the islands are under Russian administration.
During his tenure as Japan’s prime minister between 2012 and 2020, Shinzo Abe sought to break the stalemate with Russia by building personal trust with Putin and pushing for economic cooperation. Yet, these meetings yielded little progress, and Russia later hardened its attitude, even amending the constitution to prohibit territorial concession in July 2020.
Dmitry Medvedev, a former Russian president who is now serving as deputy head of the country’s Security Council, said on Telegram Tuesday the long-lasting talks with Japan have always had a “ritual” nature.
Analyzing the backdrop, Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun wrote, “In recent years, the importance of the relationship between Russia and Japan in Asia has been declining, and after the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Russia has deepened its ties with China and India amid confrontational relations with the West.”
Most Japanese people back a tough stance on Russia with sympathy for Ukraine. According to the latest poll conducted by Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun, 67% of respondents backed Japan’s continued sanctions while only 19% disagreed.
Earlier this month, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said the city will halt all exchange activities with Moscow, one of its sister cities, “to show solidarity with Ukraine.”
Contact reporter Chen Lixiong (takehiro.masutomo@caixin.com) and editor Lu Zhenhua (zhenhualu@caixin.com)
Get our weekly free Must-Read newsletter.
