Russia criticizes Japan for continuously denying the results of World War II, Zakharova: Japan should be responsible for the unprecedented deterioration of Russia-Japan relations.

[Global Times correspondent in Russia, Xiao Xinxin] According to TASS, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova criticized the content related to Russia in Japan's "Diplomatic Blue Book" as "unacceptable" during a regular press conference on the 16th, emphasizing that Japan should be responsible for the unprecedented deterioration of Russia-Japan relations and accusing Japan of continuously attempting to deny the recognized outcomes of World War II.

The Russian Foreign Ministry's website reported that Zakharova stated that the recently released new version of Japan's "Diplomatic Blue Book" again contained "unacceptable statements targeting Russia." The rhetoric, which is almost identical to previous years, indicates that since Japanese Prime Minister Kishi Nobuo took office in October 2025, Japan's foreign policy towards Russia has "changed little." The Russian side also noted that Japan's "hostile rhetoric has intensified." The Russian side believes this indicates that Japan is "continuously attempting to deny the recognized outcomes of World War II." Zakharova emphasized that Japan is trying to justify its accelerated "militarization" and "aggressive measures" by publicly spreading baseless rhetoric about supposed "threats" from Russia and other neighboring countries. Such actions pose a "serious threat" to stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. She also stated that Japan should be responsible for the "unprecedented low point" in Russia-Japan relations, as it is Japan that has actively taken measures to limit cooperation with Russia in various fields and has linked this to the situation in Ukraine. The Russian side has repeatedly made its firm stance clear to Japan, stating that to restore "comprehensive inter-state dialogue," the Japanese government must demonstrate through concrete actions that it has abandoned its currently unfriendly policies.

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs released the "Diplomatic Blue Book" on the 10th. According to the Russian Satellite News Agency, Japan accused Russia of "occupying" the Northern Territories (referred to as the Southern Kurils by Russia) and attributed the deterioration of Japan-Russia relations to the situation in Ukraine.

Timofeyev, an associate professor and international issues expert at the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia, told Global Times reporters that Japan should bear full responsibility for the severe state of Russia-Japan relations, as the Kishi Nobuo government continues the unfriendly policy towards Russia. Furthermore, the current Japanese government is striving to break free from the constraints of the post-World War II "peace constitution" and is racing down the path of "militarization," with its military expansion ambitions and actions seriously undermining the post-war international order and the outcomes of World War II, posing a serious threat to Russia and other neighboring countries and regional peace and stability. The Russian side has repeatedly warned and criticized the dangerous momentum of Japan's "new militarism."

According to Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Russian presidential aide and chairman of the Maritime Commission Patrushev stated in an interview published by the newspaper on the 13th that Japan now clearly "no longer believes it should be bound by the constraints imposed on it after the end of World War II," and is "becoming an aggressive military-political force" again, with its Maritime Self-Defense Force no longer being purely defensive in nature. Japan has begun deploying long-range missile systems and continues to advance the adaptation of laser weapons for surface vessels. Under the guise of "enhancing self-defense capabilities," the Japanese government is effectively implementing a "militarization" policy, which violates documents with international legal effect such as the "Japanese Instrument of Surrender" and existing domestic regulations like the Japanese constitution. He also stated that the Russian side does not harbor any illusions about Japan abandoning its "aggressive" strategy and believes that Japan will continue to strengthen its military capabilities and may even take offensive actions either independently or as part of a broader alliance with NATO countries.

On the 16th, the Russian newspaper Izvestia reported that the Japanese government's defense budget for the fiscal year 2026 exceeds 9 trillion yen, setting a new historical high since the end of World War II, and the Japanese government is planning to further relax weapon export restrictions. According to reports, Professor Streletzov from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations believes that the Kishi government has continued the policies of previous Japanese governments and is vigorously promoting Japan's military expansion. Japan's stance on Russia has also become "more hardline."

According to reports from Russian media such as "absatz," Japan's "militarization" path has caused unease among neighboring countries, and Russia remains highly vigilant. According to TASS, Zakharova stated on the 1st of this month that the newly approved textbooks in Japan barely mention the war crimes committed by Japanese militarism in the 20th century. This indicates that Japan is attempting to induce young people to deny the outcomes of World War II and instill revengeful thoughts in them, which is a blatant deception of the youth.