Putin makes a strong statement! Why is the island dispute between Russia and Japan so difficult to resolve?
According to comprehensive reports, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on the 5th local time that the Southern Kuril Islands are Russia’s sovereign territory and were determined based on the results of World War II. This result “cannot be re-examined.”
The ownership of the disputed islands has long troubled Russia-Japan relations. These islands are currently under the actual jurisdiction of Russia, but Japan has not stopped trying to recapture the four islands.
The islands are known as Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai Islands in Russia, while in Japan they are known as the Ortor, Kunashiri, Shikotan and Habomai Islands.
The area where these islands are located is not only rich in fishery resources, but also guards the transportation artery between the Sea of Okhotsk and the Pacific Ocean, which is also of strategic significance.
As early as the 17th century, the Japanese and Russians gradually began to operate on the islands, and the history books of both countries have recorded these islands. Since then, the ownership of these islands has changed many times.
In 1855, Russia and Japan concluded the "Japan-Russia Treaty of Friendship", confirming these islands as Japanese territory. Twenty years later, the two sides signed an island exchange treaty, stipulating that the entire Kuril Islands, including the four islands, would belong to Japan.
In February 1945, the United States, the Soviet Union, and Britain signed the Yalta Agreement, which stipulated that the entire Kuril Islands would be handed over to the Soviet Union after World War II. After that, the Soviet Union sent troops to occupy the four islands and incorporated them into its territory.
When the San Francisco Treaty was signed in 1951, Japan agreed to give up its rights to the Kuril Islands, but later withdrew this position.
In 1956, Japan formally requested the return of the four northern islands to the Soviet Union. Later, the Soviet Union agreed to return the two islands of Habomai and Shikotan to Japan after the conclusion of a peace treaty. However, in the context of the Cold War, the two countries have been unable to conclude a formal peace treaty. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia, as the successor state, actually controlled these islands.
Putin’s speech this time is not the first time that Russia has taken a tough stance on the ownership of the islands. In recent years, senior Russian government officials such as Medvedev and Mishustin have frequently visited the island to declare sovereignty.
In early 2024, during his inspection in Khabarovsk, Putin said that the Southern Kuril Islands were suitable for the development of tourism and that he would "definitely" visit there. Japan said at the time that it "will pay close attention to relevant trends and make appropriate responses based on the situation."
In response to relevant remarks, on June 5, local time, when Putin was meeting with heads of multinational news agencies in St. Petersburg, someone asked him whether he had determined a specific plan and timetable. If he visited this region, would it have any impact on Russia-Japan relations? A bigger blow.
In this regard, Putin said that there are currently no plans to visit the place. At the same time, he said, "This is part of Russian territory. I don't understand why I should be embarrassed by visiting Russian territory." He did not rule out the possibility of future visits.
Regarding the island dispute, Putin said that the matter is complicated and delicate, but Russia is "not afraid to have dialogue in this direction."
Looking back on history, he said that the Southern Kuril Islands are Russia's sovereign territory and were determined based on the results of World War II, a result that "cannot be revisited."
Putin also mentioned that due to Japan’s attitude towards the Ukrainian issue, Russia and Japan do not have the conditions to continue dialogue on a peace treaty.
