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At their bilateral meeting in L’Aquila, Italy, on the sidelines of the Group of Eight summit earlier this month, President Dmitry Medvedev and Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso exchanged views on the dispute that has darkened bilateral relations since 1945 — the Kuril Islands. Both leaders have once again “agreed to disagree” over this thorny issue that prevented Moscow and Tokyo from normalizing their political relationships in full and signing a peace treaty, which does not exist to this day.

“Japan cannot be satisfied with this situation,” Aso said. “Unless Russia takes practical steps to sign a peace treaty, we will be unable to develop partner relations with it in the Asia-Pacific region.” He insisted that Moscow should return...