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TOKYO: The Japanese Foreign Ministry summoned the Russian ambassador to Japan on Tuesday, one day after Moscow suspended talks between the two countries

Earlier, the Russian National Security Council commented on the suspension of negotiations with Japan, saying: “The talks were a sham.”

Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio also protested Russia’s declaration of a halt to its talks with Japan to resolve their territorial dispute and conclude a World War II peace treaty.

Russia’s move is “extremely unjust and utterly unacceptable,” Kishida told a meeting of the Budget Committee of the House of Councillors, the upper chamber of Japan’s parliament.

“We strongly protest,” Kishida said, responding to a question from Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan member Tetsuro Fukuyama.

At a news conference Tuesday, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said that Senior Deputy Foreign Minister Shigeo Yamada conveyed Japan’s view on the matter to Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Galuzin.

Moscow cited Japanese sanctions against Russia as a reason for the halt to the peace treaty talks.

Kishida said the sanctions were “caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.”

“The invasion of Ukraine is a unilateral change of the status quo by force. It shakes the foundation of international order and violates international law, and we severely criticize and condemn it,” Kishida added.

Meanwhile, Kishida refused to change the name of the ministerial post in charge of economic corporation with Russia as proposed by Fukuyama. The post is held by industry minister Koichi Hagiuda.

On a Group of Seven summit to be held in person in the Belgian capital of Brussels on Thursday, Kishida, who will attend the meeting, said, “It is important to show the solidarity of the international community.”

He also expressed a wish to share assessments on the current situations with his G-7 colleagues.

Toshimitsu Motegi, secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, told a press conference Tuesday that Russia’s declaration of the halt to the peace treaty talks is “extremely regrettable.”

“In the international community, it is very important to keep a promise between two countries,” he added.

*With JIJI Press