Support The Moscow Times!

Russia Has ‘No Territorial Conflicts with Japan,’ Says Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin plays with a dog before his interview with the Nippon Television Network Corporation and the Yomiuri Shimbun prior to his visit to Japan and meeting with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia. Kremlin Press Service

Russia has “no territorial conflicts with Japan,” President Vladimir Putin has claimed in an interview with Japanese media.

Speaking in an interview with Japanese broadcaster Nippon TV, Putin said that Russia was “ready to discuss” ownership of the disputed Kuril Islands.

"Japan believes that we have territorial disagreements,” Putin said, implying the territorial dispute was of greater concern to Japan than Russia.

Both Japan and Russia claim the Kuril Islands which include Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and Habomai, in the Sea of Okhotsk.

The islands, which have a population of 19,434 people, are currently under Russian jurisdiction.

During the interview, the Russian president called for Moscow and Tokyo to improve cooperation on trade and security issues in, "an atmosphere of trust, friendship and cooperation."

Putin also said the lack of a defined peace treaty between Japan and Russia was an ”anachronism pulled out of the past."

The Russian president gave the interview before a planned visit to Japan on Dec. 15, when he is scheduled to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The trip is already tinged with controversy with Putin refusing to accept an Akita dog as a gift from the Japanese government.

The dog had been intended as a companion for another Akita, Yume, which Putin received as a gift from Japan in 2012.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more