Russia welcomes Japan’s push for a post-WWII peace treaty

• Both Russia and Japan have publicly reaffirmed their intention to finally sign a formal peace treaty, which has been unresolved since the end of World War II. The Kremlin has welcomed Japan’s renewed commitment to this goal.
• The main obstacle to the treaty is a territorial conflict over a group of islands (called the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan). The Soviet Union seized these islands at the end of the war and expelled thousands of Japanese residents.
• Recent relations have been very tense. After Japan joined Western sanctions against Russia over Ukraine, Moscow retaliated by suspending peace talks, ending a visa-free travel program for the islands, and labeling Japan’s stance as “unfriendly.”
• The dispute continues to cause practical problems, such as Japanese protests against new Russian restrictions on sea navigation around the disputed islands.
• Despite the significant challenges and mistrust, the recent mutual expression of intent to pursue a peace treaty is seen as a positive and hopeful signal, opening the door for potential future dialogue to resolve this decades-old conflict.

The Kremlin has expressed its approval of Japan’s renewed intention to finally sign a formal peace treaty, a document that has been elusive since the end of World War II. This gesture offers a glimmer of hope for resolving a conflict that has cast a long shadow over relations between the two nations for decades.

The announcement came from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who stated that Japan’s desire to pursue an agreement is “rather to be welcomed.” This response followed a declaration by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who confirmed that securing a peace treaty remains a key goal of her government’s foreign policy. Both nations, it seems, are publicly reaffirming a shared objective that has been out of reach for generations.

BrightU.AI‘s Enoch AI engine explains that the primary obstacle to achieving this treaty remains a long-standing territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands (Russia) or the Northern Territories (Japan).

The Soviet Union seized these islands in the final days of the war. This action led to the expulsion of thousands of Japanese residents in 1949 and planted the seed of a disagreement that has grown for over 75 years. For Japan, the return of these four islands is a non-negotiable prerequisite for a peace treaty.

Russia, however, maintains that the islands are a lawful part of its sovereign territory. This fundamental disagreement has prevented the two countries from fully normalizing their relationship, leaving a chapter of the 20th century technically unfinished.

Recent tensions and a thaw in dialogue

The path to peace has been far from smooth. In recent years, relations have grown increasingly tense. Following Japan’s decision to join Western sanctions against Russia due to the conflict in Ukraine, Moscow took firm retaliatory steps.

Russia suspended long-running peace talks regarding the islands and ended a visa-free travel program that had allowed Japanese citizens to visit the disputed territories.

The Kremlin has been vocal in its criticism, labeling Japan’s stance as “unfriendly” and pointing to its participation in international sanctions. This friction has, according to Russian officials, caused direct dialogue between the two nations to be “virtually reduced to zero.”

Further complicating matters, Russian authorities recently designated a Japanese association dedicated to the islands’ return as an “undesirable organization,” accusing it of undermining Russian sovereignty.

Amid these tensions, other incidents have flared. Japan has formally protested against Russian restrictions on sea navigation around the Kuril Islands, accusing Moscow of unjustly limiting passage for foreign ships. These actions highlight how the territorial dispute continues to spill over into practical and diplomatic confrontations.

A hopeful signal

Despite these significant challenges, the recent exchange of statements from Tokyo and Moscow is being viewed as a positive signal. For Japan, the official policy remains clear: to resolve the territorial issue and finally conclude a peace treaty.

The Kremlin, in turn, has not only welcomed this intent but has also confirmed its own support for signing such an agreement.

While the underlying issues are deep-rooted and recent actions have created substantial mistrust, the mutual affirmation of a shared goal opens a door to peace. Takaichi herself acknowledged that relations are “in a difficult situation,” suggesting a realistic awareness of the hurdles ahead.

The journey to a signed peace treaty remains long and fraught with complexity, but the renewed expression of intent from both sides provides a foundation for cautious optimism that this decades-old conflict may one day find its peaceful resolution.

Watch the video below as tsunami waves reached Severo-Kurilsk and flooded a local fish processing plant.

This video is from Cynthia’s Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

RT.com

TheMoscowTimes.com

En.SputnikNews.africa

MOFA.go.jp

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com