Japan and Russia never signed peace treaty after end of World War II
Kremlin welcomes Japan's push for peace treaty amid Kuril Islands dispute
Kremlin welcomed Japan's desire to sign a peace treaty with Russia
follows new Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi's (pic below) foreign policy agenda
Takaichi said, "govt to resolve territorial issue and finalise peace treaty."
dispute over four southernmost Kuril islands taken by Soviet Union 1945
Kremlin responded by saying the statement is "to be welcomed. "
"Moscow also supports signing a peace treaty with Japan"
Russia noted Japan's "rather unfriendly stance" towards Moscow
Japan has taken part in "all unlawful sanctions and restrictions against Russia"
dispute over Kuril Islands major obstacle to improved relations
Tokyo renounced its claims under 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty
Russia, maintains four islands as part of its sovereign territory
PM Takaichi acknowledged relations between two countries "in a difficult situation"
My Comments: The new Japanese PM Sanae Takaichi has a different outlook and worldview towards her nearest neighbours Russia and China. Then they can all cooperate to build more bridges and cars around the world rather than to build aircraft carriers and missile ships.
The more "difficult" imaginary enemy for Japan is North Korea. In the past North Korea has tested their ballistic missiles by firing them on trajectories right over the Japanese islands. Which has spooked the Japanese. But North Korea is a close buddy of Russia. If Japan signs a peace treaty with Russia indirectly the temperature between Japan and North Korea can also cool a few degrees. Its win win.
Those four islands can be a problem but perhaps the new Japanese PM has read Donald Trump's 'Art of the Deal'.
Japan is part of the western imposed economic sanctions against Russia. The sanctions are a bigger loss for Japan than Russia. However Russia would like all those sanctions lifted. If Japan is willing to sign a peace treaty with Russia, Russia will most certainly insist that Japan retract or abolish all their sanctions against Russia. This will then create a crack in the western imposed sanctions system. Hence the Russians saying, "Kremlin welcomed Japan's desire to sign a peace treaty with Russia".
Japan would also be striking out under their own foreign policy - independent of the west and the US. Perhaps it is long overdue.
More importantly Toyota cars can be sold in Russia again and Japanese airlines can fly across Russia on their way west. Japan would most certainly import cheap Russian oil and gas.
Folks the foreign stock markets will go up. Looks like peace is breaking out.
