TOKYO (Sputnik) — Joint economic activities on the South Kuril Islands could be among conditions for building mutual trust and signing the peace deal between Russia and Japan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday.
"Our agreements on preparation and creation of conditions for the peace treaty should be based on the ground of trust. For example it could be reached as a result of joint large-scale economic activities, including on the South Kuril Islands," Putin said in an interview with the Japanese NTV broadcaster.
He added that Japan should not start the discussions of the territorial dispute with Russia with the issue of Tokyo’s sovereignty over the South Kurils.
