Putin Says Northern Territories Are Now Russian, Blames Japan for Stalled Talks
Listen to the story
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the Northern Territories, a group of islands claimed by both Japan and Russia, are now definitively part of Russian territory.
Putin made the comments while visiting Sakhalin, a Russian region near Japan, where he attended a naval exercise. He said the islands' status as Russian land is now settled and final.
According to Putin, Japan has changed its diplomatic stance on the islands. He did not explain exactly how Japan's position had shifted, but he pointed to this change as a key issue.
The Northern Territories dispute has prevented Japan and Russia from signing a peace treaty since the end of World War Two. Both countries have held talks over the years, but no final agreement has been reached.
Putin said that Japan is to blame for the lack of progress in these negotiations. He described Japan's side as the main cause of the deadlock.
He also raised concerns about NATO, the Western military alliance, saying it was expanding its influence into Asia. Putin argued that this expansion is helping to form a new political and military bloc in the region.
Putin's remarks add tension to an already difficult relationship between Tokyo and Moscow. The islands dispute has long been a major obstacle to closer ties between the two neighbours.
Japan has not yet issued a detailed public response to Putin's comments.
Vocabulary10 words
- Northern Territories
- islands claimed by both Japan and Russia
- naval exercise
- training activity done by a country's navy
- stance
- an official opinion or position on an issue
- peace treaty
- a formal agreement that officially ends a conflict
- negotiations
- talks between two sides trying to reach an agreement
- deadlock
- a situation where no side can move forward
- NATO
- a group of Western countries with a shared military alliance
- bloc
- a group of countries acting together, especially in politics
- territory
- land that belongs to a country
- diplomatic
- related to talks between countries
Quiz
Answer key
1. That they are now permanently Russian territory 2. Because of Japan's position 3. That it is helping form a new bloc in Asia
Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the Northern _____, a group of islands claimed by both Japan and Russia, are now definitively part of Russian territory.
Putin made the comments while visiting Sakhalin, where he attended a naval _____.
According to Putin, Japan has changed its diplomatic _____ on the islands.
The Northern Territories dispute has prevented Japan and Russia from signing a peace _____ since the end of World War Two.
Putin said that Japan is to _____ for the lack of progress in these negotiations.
He described Japan's side as the main cause of the _____.
He also raised concerns about NATO, saying it was expanding its influence into _____.
Putin argued that this expansion is helping to form a new _____ in the region.
Putin's remarks add tension to an already difficult relationship between _____ and Moscow.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think territorial disputes like this one are so difficult to resolve?
- How might Putin's comments affect future relations between Japan and Russia?
- What role do you think NATO's activities in Asia play in this dispute?
- Do you think public statements like this help or harm diplomatic negotiations?