Russian authorities have summoned the German ambassador for a meeting
In a recent development, the Russian Foreign Ministry has summoned the German Ambassador to Moscow, Alexander Graf Lambsdorff, following statements made by the German Ambassador to Japan, Petra Sigmund, regarding the Southern Kuril Islands.
The dispute over the Southern Kuril Islands, a group of four islands located near Japan, has been a long-standing territorial conflict between Russia and Japan. Moscow has accused Ambassador Sigmund of questioning Russia's sovereignty over the islands and attacking the country's territorial integrity.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned Germany against questioning the results of World War II and not recognizing the Southern Kuril Islands as part of Russia. The ministry stated that the Southern Kuril Islands are a post-war order recognized by the United Nations, and Russia's sovereignty over them is undisputed.
However, Germany has rejected the accusation that the statements made by their ambassador allegedly violated Russia's sovereignty. Ambassador Lambsdorff, in a separate incident, criticized Russia for violating Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity on a daily basis with several hundred thousand soldiers.
The Kuril Islands dispute dates back to the end of World War II when the Soviet Union invaded the islands. Japan holds that these four southern islands are inherently Japanese territory and were illegally occupied by Russia after World War II. On the other hand, Russia considers its sovereignty over the islands to be legally grounded in the outcomes of World War II.
The current status of the dispute is marked by Russia's robust military presence on the islands, including advanced missile systems and military exercises, which Japan regards as an illegal occupation and a regional security threat. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute have largely stalled, particularly after 2020 when the updated Russian constitution explicitly declared Russian territories as non-transferable.
Japan continues to advocate for the rights of former island residents and their descendants seeking to visit ancestral gravesites. This sensitive humanitarian aspect is affected by ongoing geopolitical tensions and recent events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The ongoing dispute between Russia and Japan over the Southern Kuril Islands remains unresolved, with both parties maintaining their respective positions. The disagreement is a reminder of the complex geopolitical landscape in the region and the challenges in resolving historical territorial disputes.
The ongoing geopolitical dispute between Russia and Japan over the Southern Kuril Islands has attracted attention in the general-news sphere, with the Commission, in the midst of this, asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation in political discussions concerning these territorial conflicts. The Italian Foreign Minister, harboring concerns over Moscow's actions, has weighed in, critically voicing the violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity by Russia, a matter that has escalated political tensions.
