"Soviet victory over Japan" - USSR signed non-aggression pacts with Germany and Japan. The latter was strictly abided by both sides until August 1945 when Soviet Union attacked Kwantung Army in Manchuria taken Japanese by surprise. Japan was effectively defeated by US at that time what was only reaffirmed by dropping two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Soviets simply took opportunity to grab some territories in Asia particularly those ceded to Japan after catastrophic Russo-Japanese War in 1905. Stalin also thought about invasion of Hokkaido to establish communist regime in part of Japanese Isles as he did in Korean Peninsula but was deterred by American show of force.

Now Kremlin wants to artificially create another Victory Day atop of this infamous Soviet adventure because supposedly 9th May is not enough to muster funny military parades gathering plenty of outdated gear.

When Soviet red army crossed the border of Japanese-controlled Manchuria, so came the massive rape against Chinese women by Soviet soldiers.

 

The Emperor of Japan made a right decision back then that very few can envisage. Every other East Asia country with large commie stronghold post WW2 devolved into deadly civil wars. It is true that Americans defeated Japanese military, but it is the savageness of Soviet army that pushed Japanese Emperor to accept unconditional surrender. Actually, it was not-so unconditioned considering that Japanese would rather Americans occupying Japanese proper to prevent Chinese and Russian landing on their shores.

I read an article recently by a former Japanese defense minister from the Liberal Democratic Party saying that in the Japanese view WW2 ended when Japan accepted the terms of the Potsdam declaration, which was somewhere around August 10,   1945, not when the surrender document was signed on the Missouri (September 2).  Therefore, the Russians do not have a legal right to the occupied islands.  

She also pointed out that the dispute poisons the relationship between Japan and Russia, and prevents Japan from helping with the economic development of Siberia.  She also asserted that Russia and Japan should be united in confronting the greater threat represented by China's military and economic expansion.

 

It seems like the Russians have dug their heels in on this issue.  Does anyone know:

1. What if anything would it take for the Russians to negotiate

2. What is the economic value of the islands and/or surrounding waters

3. Has the U.S. taken a position on this issue

 

Thanks