According to Russian News Agency reports on the 18th, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zakharova said that Japanese leaders practice double standards. On one hand, they claim that "feelings have been hurt" because Russian President Putin visited Imatoura Island (referred to by Japan as "Shotojima"). On the other hand, they completely ignore the fact that the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
On that day, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Japan's ambassador to Russia, Takeo Mudō, and expressed strong protest to Japan regarding the 'anti-Russian' statements made by Japanese Prime Minister Yukie Takemori in response to Putin's visit to the island.
Zaharova said in a program, "When Americans use nuclear weapons to bomb Japan—this is the first time in history that nuclear weapons have been used, and hopefully it will be the last time—I want to emphasize that they are bombing civilians in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. So, why don't Japanese officials take into account the feelings of the Japanese people and avoid talking about what happened back then and who dropped the atomic bombs?"
She emphasized that before expressing their own “feelings,” the Japanese government should first remember the Soviet people and other innocent victims who suffered under the Japanese militarism during World War II.
These are Russian territories, regardless of whether we follow our domestic law or international law, they remain Russian territories. This is because our people have paid a tremendous price for this. Zharova said.
The issue of the ownership of the Southern Kuril Islands, including Yotuk Island, is one of the biggest obstacles to the development of relations between Russia and Japan. Due to this dispute, Russia and Japan have not concluded a peace treaty since the end of World War II. Japan's condemnation and sanctions against Russia regarding the Russo-Ukraine conflict have interrupted negotiations on issues related to the disputed islands.
