Russia Halts Peace Talks with Japan over Sanctions

Russia withdrew from negotiations with Japan for a peace treaty to officially end World War II hostilities in response to sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced the decision on Monday and blamed Japan's "anti-Russian" policies for the deterioration in bilateral ties.

In addition to halting the peace talks, Russia will end visa-free travel to a chain of Russian-controlled islands called the Northern Territories by Tokyo and the Southern Kurils by Russia, according to the ministry.

Meanwhile, Russia is planning to withdraw from discussions on joint economic activities in these islands, and not to extend Japan's status as a partner in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation framework.

Along with the U.S. and Europe, Japan has imposed heavy economic sanctions on Russia following the invasion. Japan is damaging Russian interests by taking an "openly unfriendly" stance toward the country, the ministry said in its statement.