MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 16th January, 2019) Russia will protect the interests of its nationals living on the disputed Kuril islands, a Kremlin spokesman has said, following this Monday's high-level talks on the belated peace treaty with Japan.
The two countries have been technically at war after failing to sign the post-WWII peace treaty over a land row. Japan lays claims to four islands off its northern tip, which Russia considers its territory.
"There can be no question of hurting the interests of our nationals living on the Kuril islands," Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Russia's Argumenty i Fakty weekly out Wednesday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had agreed to find wording that would be acceptable for people in both countries, Peskov said, calling the absence of the treaty "absurd."
