TOKYO, February 7. /TASS/. Japan would like to sign a peace treaty with Russia despite the difficult situation in bilateral relations, because it considers the absence of such treaty 77 years after World War II regrettable, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said during the rally for return of the Northern Territories, as the Southern Kuril Islands are called in Japan.

"It is extremely regrettable that, 77 years after the war is over, the issue of the northern territories remains unresolved, and a peace treaty has not been signed between Japan and Russia. Currently, the Japanese-Russian relations are in a difficult state due to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. However, the Japanese government is firmly set to resolve the territorial issue and to sign a peace treaty," he said.