Russo-Japanese Peace Treaty Negotiations And Plans For Joint Economic Activity on the Southern Kuril Islands

The article analyzes the Russo-Japanese peace treaty negotiations in 2013- 2019. Despite the rapprochement in the trade, economic, political and humanitarian spheres, the territorial dispute remains an obstacle, significantly complicating bilateral ties. There remain disagreements on the sovereignty over the southern Kuril Islands, on acceptable conditions for resolving a territorial dispute, as well as on the significance of the territorial dispute for the development of bilateral relations. The plans for the implementation of joint economic activities on the southern Kuril Islands are also analyzed. It is concluded that Russia and Japan need to continue to build upon the result of rapprochement initiated by the leaders of the countries and continue negotiations on the peace treaty that will upgrade their relations