Russia and Japan are involved in a dispute over Kuril islands, captured by the Soviet Union at World War II’s end.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said he wants his country to sign a peace deal with Japan this year to formally end hostilities that began during World War II over a group of islands.
Putin made the comments on Wednesday during an economic forum in the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok, where he met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe .
“An idea has just come into my head. Let’s conclude a peace treaty before the end of this year, without any pre-conditions,” Putin said during a question-and-answer session at the forum, prompting the audience to break into applause.
The dispute between Russia and Japan started more than seven decades ago, with the Soviet Union occupying the strategically located Kuril chain of islands during the last days of World War II in 1945.
Both nations have laid claim over the group of four islands – known as the Southern Kurils in Russia and the Northern Territories in Japan – thereby preventing them from signing a peace accord.
