Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev defended on Tuesday the decision Russia made yesterday to end the Kuril Islands talks with Japan.
Medvedev wrote on his Telegram app: "Russia refused to discuss a peace treaty with Japan. In the context of the fate of the Kuril Islands, this decision is historically justified, overdue and fair." He also noted that the issue of the Kuril Islands was impossible to resolve and that both parties included were aware of this. "So the negotiations on the Kurils have always been of a ritual nature," Medvedev claimed.
Earlier, Tokyo slammed Moscow's decision to cancel the talks as "harsh," "unjustified" and "unacceptable." Meanwhile, Russia noted it halted the negotiations in response to Japan's sanctions against Moscow.
