Russia says Japan’s actions pushing ties to ‘point of no return’

ISTANBUL

Russia on Thursday said Japan’s recent actions over the disputed Kuril Islands have brought relations to the “point of no return,” criticizing “anti-Russian rallies” and comparisons to Ukraine made during events marking “Northern Territories Day.”

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told a press briefing that rallies held on Feb. 7 in Tokyo and other cities were “defiantly anti-Russian in nature,” with Japan’s leadership reiterating what she described as “alleged claims” to part of Russia’s Kuril Islands, which Tokyo refers to as the “Northern Territories.”

She also objected to what she called “inappropriate” parallels drawn between the territorial dispute and the situation in Ukraine.

“I don’t understand: does Japan want everyone to think they’re doing the same thing in Ukraine? Why keep drawing these parallels?” Zakharova said.

She stressed that Russia’s sovereignty over the Kuril Islands was determined by the results of World War II, is enshrined in the Russian Constitution, and “is not subject to revision.”

Russia and Japan have long disputed the sovereignty of the southern Kuril Islands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories.

The territorial issue has prevented the two countries from signing a formal peace treaty since World War II, and tensions have deepened in recent years amid Japan’s sanctions over the Ukraine conflict.

• defiantly anti-Russian in nature
• Japan
• Maria Zakharova
• Russia