Negotiation of peace agreement impossible amid mounting Russia-Japan tensions: Russian ambassador

MOSCOW -- Russian Ambassador to Japan Nikolai Nozdrev said Wednesday that discussions of a peace agreement with Japan are impossible due to Japan's hostile policies.

During an interview with Russia's TASS news agency, Nozdrev said the term "peace agreement" is misleading. "Before the current period of cooling of bilateral relations with Japan began, we were talking specifically about a treaty on peace, good neighborliness and cooperation," he said.

According to the diplomat, this extensive document is intended to set the framework and foundation for the long-term development of relations into the foreseeable future, he said, adding that "discussing such a document with a country that essentially pursues a hostile policy towards Russia is not possible at this stage."

Moscow and Tokyo have failed to sign a postwar peace treaty due to their rival claims to the four Pacific islands, called Southern Kurils in Russia and Northern Territories in Japan, the pre-war owner.

Following Tokyo's imposition of sanctions due to Russia's special military operation in Ukraine, Russia ceased consultations with Japan regarding the peace treaty. Moscow also withdrew from negotiations with Tokyo on joint economic activities on the southern Kuril Islands and blocked the extension of Japan's status as a partner in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization's sectoral dialogue.