Ukraine officially recognized Russia’s occupation of the Kuril Islands thereby supporting Japan.

According to UNIAN, 287 members of the parliament of Ukraine supported the appeal to the international community regarding the Northern Territories of Japan.

“Crimea is Ukraine, the Kuril Islands are Japan. Territories stolen by Russia around the world should be returned,» stated the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk.

From August to September 1945, the USSR illegally occupied the Northern Territories of Japan and then carried out the deportation of the Japanese population. “Russia, as the “successor of the USSR” was obliged to return them. But it hasn’t done so yet,” added Stefanchuk.

The Parliament of Ukraine appeals to the UN, the European Parliament, the PACE, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and the international community and urges them to continue taking all possible measures for the contractual and legal registration of the status of Japan’s Northern Territories.

The disputed islands are under Russian administration as the South Kuril District and part of the Kuril District of the Sakhalin Oblast.

Earlier this month Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska collected the Knight of Freedom award on behalf of the Ukrainian people for “promoting the values of freedom, justice, and democracy”.