Russia, Japan make no visible progress on territorial dispute

Gospodin Gorbachev is needed back instead of Putin. Russia must return all four islands. The people who presently live there should be able to select to stay there as Japanese citizens or to return to Russia.

Breakthrough in relations between Japan and Russia is in sight . Differences have already narrowed down between the two countries for clinching the deal and the problem is on the verge of being solved .Move slowly and steadily on the right track and achieve success without offending mutual sensibilities of each other in the least. This is the grand mantra of achieving success.

The Soviet Union took the four southernmost Kuril Islands during the final days of World War II

Might is right!

Ndwariga

Abe will call Russia's bluff, send in Japan Defense forces, occupy the place and see what Russia is going to do. Russia is weak and cannot withstand a naval or land combat with JDF. They cannot nuke due to big bad US. What will they do?

Nothing..

Trust me, Japan will be polka-dotted with lots of man-made Tunguskas . Courtesy of Russian missiles.

"Abe will call Russia's bluff, send in Japan Defense forces, occupy the place and see what Russia is going to do. Russia is weak and cannot withstand a naval or land combat with JDF."

I blame the terrible dumbing down of historical narratives for such illustrious visions of grandeur. Clearly you've never heard of the cold war and why it happened.

ndwariga: "Abe will call Russia's bluff, send in Japan Defense forces, occupy the place and see what Russia is going to do. Russia is weak and cannot withstand a naval or land combat with JDF."

Yeah... just been biding their time for 70+ years and PM's promising to resolve the issue as a cover. According to plan, they will be back in Japanese hands in 300 years! bwahahaha!

Woe unto Japan, it's a different time and Putin is no Yeltsin. The approach by the late Suzuki Muneo would also have given them a really good chance of CONQUERING ( you are reading right ) those Islands.... by humanitarian stealth. If they had sent Japanese nationals with investments which the area needed the most as Moscow had either neglected or had no means to develop the place. Had they done that, the islands would have been geographically Russian but Japanese dominated ... with other future probabilities.

Here again , Japanese exclutionist tendencies worked against them. Thought of in other ways, one can think of Little Tokyo in the US or the many China towns all over the world. Where one ethnicity dominates and defines the areas social culture . Also the example of the Mongols having militarily colonised China but were culturally conquered by the Hans. Currently , It's just water under the bridge though.

Kind of interesting seeing it from a Russian perspective:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMJt2cDI9DY

In that picture Putin looks a lot like he is just walking out on Abe with a "I'm not gonna talk to you" face xD

Well It's the reality Japan needs to face. Unless you are strong, you end up in the unfairness and the ridicule.

Do not waste taxpayers money any further under the name of economic cooperation, spend them all to rebuild and strengthen Japanese military force instead and confront both Koreas, Russia,China. You cannot help heading this way and not your fault. You can do it as you could do so when you were forced to open your cheerful small country.

Japan especially when I try to think what on earth those doing in Japan?

oh so "if you don't like it leave" is the comment many want to state when they feel threatened!? I like many gaijin stay in Japan because the pluses out number the minuses. and like Jim Jefferies states to "if you don't like it leave" "NO!, I came here legally , I pay my taxes , I dont break any laws, Ill say whatever the F I want" If those can't take criticism then too bad , your welcome to leave JT if you dont like it, or stay, its up to you, have a nice day.

It's funny to read the posts making a fool out of Japan over this kind of issues coming inside of Japan especially when I try to think what on earth those doing in Japan? Are they really happy living in Japan? and what not.

Japan never ceased it's claim over 4 islands and Takeshima in last 70years. It's not like asking for money and starting revenge once you developed.

Russia is weak and cannot withstand a naval or land combat with JDF. 

seems many dont know Russias true strength, they may not be economic superpower but theyre still formidable in their military, probably the last country America would want to go to war with.

heres a list of Russias military assets' 15000 battle tanks, 150 naval vessels 1 aircraft carrier, 39 nuclear subs 22 non nuclear subs, 3500 aircraft, 1400 attach helicopters, 6000+ nulcear weapons, standing army of 350,000 soldiers, yeah so no Japan would get a serious case woopass if they even tried.

This is what I'm talking about:

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-japan-dispute-kurlies-northern-territories-pacific-islands-abe-putin/29700774.html

Where are all the nationalists who Always scream, "It was more than 70 years ago! Move on already!" on other issues here? Of course, "that's different", as it Always is. Fact is, Japan screwed this one up again with the media and government officials announcing before the meeting to prepare to get the islands back and what to do when they do, etc., which caused the Russian ambassador to issue stern statements that it is undisputed Russian territory and Japan must completely and finally accept history. Had they not started this Frenzy in the media, no doubt pushed by wingers, perhaps more subtle negotiation about giving back PART of the territories might have started. But nope, the Japan side scuttled it before it even began. Russia is laughing all the way to the bank once again.

Russia's only purpose is to sign a peace treaty and perhaps gain recognition from Japan of Russia's sovereignty over the four Islands. That is why Putin is there.

oh its much more than that, Ive stated many times before Putin is going to milk Japan for all the monetary and political concessions he can get, it just depends of whether Japan thinks its worth the cost.

Abe will call Russia's bluff, send in Japan Defense forces, lol

i was waiting for someone deluded to say that, Russia would hands Japans butt to them on a platter, Dont pray that America would protect Japan , especially if Japan was the agressor and more so because its Russia. Russias military dwarfs that of Japan and thats not even taking into consideration the 6000 nukes they have.

ndwarigaToday  09:45 am JST

Abe will call Russia's bluff, send in Japan Defense forces, occupy the place and see what Russia is going to do. Russia is weak and cannot withstand a naval or land combat with JDF. They cannot nuke due to big bad US. What will they do?

BEST COMMENT. You made my day buddy. LOL

Since when does Putin need public's support? It is the public that needs Putin's support and approval!!

Russia's only purpose is to sign a peace treaty and perhaps gain recognition from Japan of Russia's sovereignty over the four Islands. That is why Putin is there.

Japan is trying to get back control of Islands captured and occupied at the end of WWII and then sign a peace treaty.

Russia has no intention of giving up any of those Islands, 3 of which have people living on them.

As long as both have their current ambitions, there will most likely be no progress made.

If the progress still far then japan should wait for the WWIII And take the 4 islands again if possible take some russia's land. It takes many years for WWIII. For now Conflict in Asia , Conflict in Middle East , russia's Undeclare war with ukraine and threat in NATO's border.

If lavrov still the minister the negotiate will not end. This guy always the one who make the issue more hard like in ukraine

I would say that if the discussions are only for the 2 smallest islands and not the whole 4, Abe should respectfully decline the offer and leave it for the time being, unless the agreement stipulates handing over the 2 now and discussions for the remaining 2 to occur in the future.

Putin won't last forever and there's hope Russia can become a bit less nationalistic and authoritarian in future

I really don't expect any progress so I suppose I won't be disappointed.

Abe will call Russia's bluff, send in Japan Defense forces, occupy the place and see what Russia is going to do. Russia is weak and cannot withstand a naval or land combat with JDF. They cannot nuke due to big bad US. What will they do?

Nothing..

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.......... AAAAAAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

This one is funny!!!!!!!

lol lol lol lol.......

Abe will call Russia's bluff, send in Japan Defense forces, occupy the place and see what Russia is going to do. Russia is weak and cannot withstand a naval or land combat with JDF. They cannot nuke due to big bad US. What will they do?

Nothing..

I’m waiting to see some high level diplomacy and negotiations from our Dear PM. He’s got a few tough nails in front of him, Putin is only the first. Can we do it without resorting to the military!? I hope so.

Russia will never return those islands. Japan's (the world's) only hope is that Russia implodes and the military abandons the islands. They are otherwise of little economic value.

"Delicate work is needed to create conditions for reaching a mutually acceptable solution," Putin said

Unfortunatey, a ‘mutually acceptable solution’ means all the islands belong to Russia in the eyes of Putin and that is all he will ever agree to.

PM Abe swore on his fathers grave he will get the Northern Territories back. Doubt PM Abe at your own risk. PM Abe and Putin will work hard on getting a deal done, even if it takes a few more years.

It is a progress. If Abe can make a deal, he will be one of great PM in morden time.

You know, trading a $100 bill for a $5 bill is a deal too. Would that make someone the greatest of all time, too? Maybe Putin will offer some magic beans.

If Abe were a CEO of a company then he would have been sacked many moons ago for his lackluster performance.......

Abe is just embarrassing himself and looking stupid. Obama warned him about Putin. He didn't listen. A silver spoon fed spoiled blue blood brat vs a cold war KGB SOB. Of course, Abe is going to have his butt handed to him. What did he expect?

It is a progress. If Abe can make a deal, he will be one of great PM in morden time.

Of course not Abe needs to keep attention away from him.... if it's not NK it's Russia.