Fumio KishidaTOKYO, Mar 22 Russia's decision to withdraw from dialogue with Japan on a peace treaty is «unacceptably tough,» Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said during a hearing in the upper house of the country's parliament. The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday that Moscow, as a response to Japan's unfriendly steps, refuses to negotiate a peace treaty with Tokyo, stops visa-free travel of the Japanese to the southern Kuril Islands, is withdrawing from the dialogue on establishing joint economic activities in the southern Kuriles.
"This is unacceptably harsh, absolutely unjustified and unacceptable. We strongly protest (in connection with this decision — ed.) & # 34;, — said Kishida, commenting on Moscow's decision.
Answering a question regarding Tokyo's position on the issue of territories and the peace treaty, the prime minister said that «the position of the Japanese government regarding the resolution of the territorial issue and the conclusion of the peace treaty has not changed since this peace treaty.» «At the same time, as I said earlier, in the light of events in Ukraine, dialogue with the Russian Federation is now impossible,» he added. In turn, Secretary General of the Japanese Cabinet Hirokazu Matsuno said that Tokyo had sent a protest to Moscow in connection with the withdrawal from the dialogue on the peace treaty.
Tokyo declined to answer the question about the Japanese volunteer in UkraineAfter the start of the Russian special operation to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine, many Western countries announced large-scale economic restrictions against Russia, primarily against the banking sector and the supply of high-tech products. Many brands have also announced they will stop operating in the country. Japan has also imposed several packages of sanctions. The restrictions affected dozens of officials and companies, as well as the export of hundreds of different goods. In addition, on March 16, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the exclusion of Russia from the most favored nation in trade. Lack of a peace treaty, Japan claims the Russian islands of Kunashir, Shikotan, Iturup and Habomai, referring to the bilateral Treatise on Trade and Borders of 1855. In 1956 Moscow agreed to consider handing over Habomai and Shikotan after a peace agreement was reached. The Soviet side hoped to put an end to territorial disputes, but Tokyo did not renounce claims to all the islands. As a result, a peace treaty was never concluded. Moscow's position is that the islands became part of the USSR following World War II and Russia's sovereignty over them is beyond doubt.
Slutsky commented on Russia's response to Japan's actions