Breakthrough in japan russia islands row eludes pm abe putin

You're referring to the long-standing territorial dispute between Japan and Russia over a group of islands known as the Northern Territories (Kuril Islands in Japanese, Kuril'skiye Ostrova in Russian).

Despite efforts to resolve the issue, a breakthrough has indeed eluded Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Here's a brief summary of the situation:

Background:

The dispute centers around four islands: Kunashiri, Iturup, Shikotan, and Habomai. These islands were seized by the Soviet Union from Japan in the final days of World War II, and Russia has maintained control over them since then. Japan claims sovereignty over the islands, while Russia considers them part of its territory.

Recent developments:

In recent years, there have been some positive developments in the relationship between Japan and Russia, including:

  1. Abe and Putin have held several summit meetings, including a meeting in 2018 where they agreed to accelerate negotiations on a peace treaty.
  2. In 2019, Russia and Japan signed a joint declaration on the promotion of peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, which included a commitment to resolve the territorial dispute.
  3. In 2020, Russia and Japan agreed to establish a joint economic committee to promote cooperation in areas such as energy, infrastructure, and tourism.

Challenges:

Despite these positive developments, a breakthrough in the dispute has eluded the two leaders. The main obstacles are:

  1. Russia's insistence on maintaining its control over the islands, which Japan sees as a non-negotiable condition for a peace treaty.
  2. Japan's refusal to accept Russia's proposal for a joint economic development of the islands, which Japan sees as a way to legitimize Russia's control over the territory.
  3. The lack of a clear framework for negotiations, which has led to a stalemate in talks.

Current situation:

The dispute remains unresolved, and tensions between Japan and Russia have increased in recent years. In 2020, Japan imposed sanctions on Russia in response to its annexation of Crimea, which has further complicated the situation.

In summary, while there have been some positive developments in the relationship between Japan and Russia, a breakthrough in the territorial dispute over the Northern Territories/Kuril Islands has eluded Prime Minister Abe and President Putin due to fundamental differences over the issue.