Russia, Japan say differences remain over disputed islands

It's strange that Russia takes this position -- whereas with Germany, Russia gave back East Germany and Berlin enough though Russia lost many more people fighting Germany during WW2, 26 million, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties_of_the_Soviet_Union

Compared with the few casualties killed by Japanese during WW2, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet%E2%80%93Japanese_War, (Russia claims 87 thousand).

The function of politicians is to do as little as possible which will achieve the same!

Thus, there will be never ending reasons for them to justify their existence.

Just issue a blank check, the end.

Moscow has said negotiations should be based on a 1956 Soviet-Japanese declaration which calls for the signing of a peace accord before the possible handover of two of the smaller islands to Japan.

Hate to say it, but if this is accurate, it sounds Japan is going about this in the wrong order. Does anyone have more info on this?

If Japan had a strong military, things have developed differently.

Russia, Japan say differences remain over disputed islands

Oh really?? Ya think??

Give the islands back to Japan and the Yanks will want to set up their bases there right against Russia.

Make the islands a dual territory. Residents given dual nationality. Doors open to all. Trade and tourism will flourish. Sign the peace treaty. There, solved it for you.

Patricia Yarrow

Russia is not a reasonable country as you think. They boldly say "The islands are ones we acquired in the war." Minds of Russia, China and North Korea still remain in the ages centuries ago.

Give the islands back to Japan and the Yanks will want to set up their bases there right against Russia.

Kinda like how Russia has already done right there against Japan...?

"In December Russia said it built four new military barracks in the Kurils..."

Putin, though nominally a president, is in actuality a mob boss, in charge of a government apparatus. Offer him enough rubles, under the table of course, and he will be glad to make a deal.

Give the islands back to Japan and the Yanks will want to set up their bases there right against Russia.

Without a doubt. Nice call. They’re like McDonalds franchises.

Invalid CSRF

Why does Russia need peace treaty with Japan? Why does Japan need peace treaty with the country which

does not respect it at all.

Japan declares war on Russia and wins but the Japanese can’t figure out why they are disliked by the Russians. .

Lets put the facts on the table: Japans foreign policy is controlled by the US. The US want to put additional bases around Russia. Why would Russia facilitate the US in construction of military bases from which to attack Russian interests? If Japan regains there sovereignty form the US and starts to form an alliance in the region and starts to distance itself from the US it may be in a better negotiating position. The problem here is the US and their continue push for world dictatorship.

Mr. Putin - give those 4 islands back to Japan. They are inalienable Japanese territory. Then you get Peace Treaty and a trade and tourism boom in return. Japan will pledge to build pipelines from Siberia to Hokkaido and buy more gas from Russia.

Make the islands a dual territory. Residents given dual nationality.

Japanese government does not accept "dual nationality". Russian citizens will be allowed to stay there on tourist or work Visa.

Ganbare Japan!: Japan cannot give a pledge as it is not a sovereign nation, it is under US occupation. Japan will not be able to stop the construction of US military bases on the islands just as it cannot stop the constructions of bases on mainland Japan.

it is under US occupation.

Huh?

Japan will not be able to stop the construction of US military bases on the islands just as it cannot stop the constructions of bases on mainland Japan.

Probably not.

Japan regains there sovereignty form the US and starts to form an alliance in the region and starts to distance itself from the US it may be in a better negotiating position.

Don’t hold your breath on that one...really.

The problem here is the US and their continue push for world dictatorship.

No, but if the world wouldn’t call us or need us, it would be a big help. When America troops gets involved the world gets angry and when they’re pulled back like the president is doing, their get outrage and they get angry. Smh...

When America troops gets involved the world gets angry and when they’re pulled back like the president is doing, their get outrage and they get angry. Smh...

Donny abandoning our allies. Smh.

bass4funk: "but if the world wouldn’t call us or need us, it would be a big help."  Are you serious? Who keeps calling for the help of the "coalition of the willing"? Who keeps seeking the help of its allies (lapdogs)? Again, without the help of its allies the US is a drop in the ocean. The problem is that the US has become a rogue, warmongering nation only interested in dictating to the world and the globe has appeased the US for too long and place itself on the brink of a nuclear war.

jtnose: "It's strange that Russia takes this position -- whereas with Germany, Russia gave back East Germany and Berlin enough though Russia lost many more people fighting Germany during WW2"

Did Japan give back islands it took in previous wars? They even GAINED some after WWII, like Dokdo (which belonged to Korea), given to them by the US to expand their territory towards countries they knew or thought could become part of "the Red Menace", so that they would have a stronger foothold in the area.

The islands are Russian, plain and simple. Japan had a chance to get two back, but natiolists would not allow, nor will they still, which is why Russia laughs while it gets more and more concessions.

Japan, you’re not getting those islands back in the near future (200 years) because you declared war on and fought Russia, and moreover, you’re a close ally of a potential enemy of Russia. For these two reasons foremost, say sayonara to your Northern Territory that was once yours but no longer is yours.

As you suggested, living in the past is unhealthy. Why do you still live in the days when those islands belonged to you? It’s time for you to leave the 20th century.

The US wouldn't like peace between Japan and Russia...

The Kuril Islands are strategic importance to Russia. Russian control of those islands are crucial to the Russian Navy's access to the Pacific Ocean. Also, the islands are resource-rich and have abundance of rare earth metals. These are the primary reasons why Russia will not give up control of these islands.

With Russia access to the Pacific Ocean and increased Chinese Navy activities in the China Seas region, they have the capability to blockade Japan anytime they want. This is the reason Japan and U.S. maintains military bases in the region, including Okinawa, in the event there is some sort of Chinese or Russian misadventure instigated.

The Russian occupation of the Northern Isles is the same as the Israel occupation of the Golan Heights and the West Bank or the Russian occupation of the Crimea?

The islands are resource rich and have rare earth metals. That's why Russia annexed them.

Oil deposits were discovered in the Golan Heights, which is another reason why Israel annexed it.

It all boils down to where resources are found and who can control the drilling or mining rights and eventual control of the region, doesn't it?

I say let Russia keep those islands but in return for building a gas pipeline from Russia to Japan

So they can entice Japan to become dependent on them and put them in a position where Russia can turn off the pipeline to blackmail them? Yeah, right.