Neither the Soviet Union nor Russia have never agreed to the transfer of Japan four southern Kuril Islands. This was stated by the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin at a meeting with the heads of world news agencies organized by TASS.
“Japanese position, she very often changed since 1956, where it was about two islands. Then we on your initiative, in the Japanese initiative, generally stopped any conversations about this part of the Kuril ridge. Then we resumed At the request of the Japanese side. It was about two islands. After that, the Japanese position changed again, and it was already about four islands. But Russia has never agreed with this, and the Soviet Union, “said the Russian president.
Amendment to the Constitution of the Russian Federation on the ban on the alienation of territories does not mean that negotiations on a peace treaty with Japan must be suspended, Putin noted. “Yes, we have changed to the Constitution. Of course, we must take it into account, but I do not think that we must suspend the conversation on a peace treaty,” Putin said.