OREANDA-NEWS Most Russians (79%) know that Japan requires Russia to transfer the four southern Islands of the Kuril ridge to it, but 77% of Russian citizens oppose the transfer, such data were provided by the all-Russian center for the study of public opinion (VTSIOM).

"79% of Russians know about the demand to return the southern Kuril Islands to Japan.  Three-quarters (77%) of respondents oppose the transfer of the southern Islands of Japan. Respondents argue their point of view primarily by the fact that the issue has already been resolved, these Islands belong to Russia (29%). Every tenth (10%) claims that we have conquered these Islands," — noted in a document.

14% of the respondents said that it is necessary to transfer the southern Kuril Islands to Japan, primarily for the sake of a Peace Treaty and the development of relations between the countries (7%).

VTSIOM notes the strengthening of the opinion that in cooperation with Japan on the issue of the Southern Kurils it is necessary to continue negotiations as long as it takes to come to a mutually acceptable solution (from 35% in 2009 to 51% in 2018). The rapid signing of a Peace Treaty with possible damage to the interests of Russia, as well as the termination of cooperation with Japan on this issue supports the minority (13%).

"The issue of belonging of the Southern Kuriles has been in the focus of attention of the majority of Russians for several decades. Any hint of an opportunity to give the island of Japan is, as a rule, the indignant reaction of the society. People do not understand why to give the Islands, which are sincerely considered Russian, and are afraid of a chain reaction to the revision of the results of the Second World War, which include the question of belonging of the Islands", — commented on the results of the study, General Director of VTSIOM Valery Fedorov.

"Therefore, our main public demand for the Russian-Japanese negotiations is not the quick achievement of any result, but an effective result from the point of view of our interests, regardless of the time that will have to be spent on its achievement," he added.

Earlier, the assistant to the Russian President Yuri Ushakov said that Japan's desires regarding the Kuril Islands are debatable, Russia will not give up its land. According to him, the key condition for solving the problem of the Peace Treaty is Tokyo's recognition of the results of the Second World War and Russia's sovereignty over the Kuriles.