RUSSIA-PM Kishida: Russian Rejection Of Peace Talks 'Unacceptable'

Speaking to the Japanese Diet's upper house's Budget Committee, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has stated that the Russian gov'ts decision to unilaterally break off talks attempting to reach a peace settlement over the long disputed Kuril Islands/Northern Territories is 'unnaceptable' and 'unfair'.

• Kishida stated that the decision "...is unacceptably tough, absolutely unjustified and inadmissible. We voice a strong protest,"
• Talks have made little-to-no progress in recent years, but the symbolism of ending talks at a time when Japan is imposing sanctions on Russia over the invasion of Ukraine has not been lost on the Japanese gov't, with Kishida stating that “It is extremely inappropriate for Russia to try to pass that off onto the Japan-Russia relationship and absolutely cannot be accepted. Japan strongly protests”