Putin, Abe Did Not Discuss Sovereignty of Southern Kurils - Kremlin

The issue of sovereignty of the Southern Kuril Islands was not discussed at the talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday.

NAGATO (Sputnik) — The Kuril Islands are the subject of the long-standing territorial dispute between Russia and Japan. Japan lays claims to Kunashir, Iturup, Shikotan islands and the Habomai group of islets. The territorial dispute has prevented Russia and Japan from signing a peace treaty after World War II.

"The issue of Russian sovereignty has not been raised at all and is not subject to discussion," Peskov said when asked about the Japanese side's reaction to the fact that possible joint economic activity on the islands would be conducted in line with Russian laws.

Asked whether the sovereignty issue was raised during Thursday's talks in principle, the spokesman said: "No."

Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said earlier Thursday that the joint economic activity of the Russian Federation and Japan on the Kuril Islands could concern fisheries, tourism, culture and medicine.