Society

Russia halts peace treaty talks with Japan over sanctions

Mar 22 (Nikkei) - The Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday said it will withdraw from negotiations with Japan for a peace treaty to formally end World War II hostilities in response to sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

Japan, along with the U.S. and Europe, have imposed far-reaching economic penalties on Russia following the invasion. Japan is damaging Russian interests by taking an "obviously unfriendly" stance toward the country, the ministry said in its statement.

In addition to exiting the peace talks, Russia will end visa-free travel to a chain of Russian-controlled islands called the Northern Territories by Tokyo and the Southern Kurils by Russia, the ministry said.

Russia also plans to withdraw from discussions on joint economic activities in these islands, and plans not to extend Japan's status as a partner in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation framework.

The ministry statement blamed Japan's "anti-Russia" policies for the deterioration in bilateral ties.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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