[Putin said that all the responsibility for the deterioration of Russia-Japan relations lies with Japan] September 2 (Xinhua) When Russian President Putin was asked on September 1 about Japan's protest against his recent landing on the Southern Kuril Islands (called the Four Northern Islands in Japan), he said that he was "not surprised" by this. The responsibility for the deterioration of Russia-Japan relations lies entirely with the Japanese government. Putin said that "signing a peace treaty is a complex issue." Russia was willing to discuss relevant issues with Japan and had responded positively on a large number of related issues. However, Japan's behavior caused the deterioration of bilateral relations, which was "100% Japan's fault." Putin landed on the disputed islands between Russia and Japan on the Southern Kuril Islands (called the Four Northern Islands in Japan) on August 13, and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador to lodge a formal protest. In response, the Russian Embassy in Japan said, "The president's itinerary in his own country does not allow foreign governments to interfere." (CCTV International News)