Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has stressed that his government will continue to try to settle the territorial issue with Russia and resume bilateral exchanges, even though negotiations have stalled due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Kishida spoke at a national rally in Tokyo on Tuesday. The event is held annually to mark Northern Territories Day and to call for the return of the four islands.

A Japan-Russia treaty signed on February 7 in 1855 recognized that the four islands belong to Japan.

Russia controls the islands. Japan claims them. The Japanese government maintains the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory. It says the islands were illegally occupied after World War Two.

Kishida said it is regrettable that the territorial issue has not been resolved and that a peace treaty has not been signed 77 years after the war ended.

He said his government will continue to pursue these goals, even though Russia's aggression in Ukraine has hurt Japan-Russia relations.

Kishida added that his government will continue to try to bring about the resumption of bilateral exchange programs. He said he considers the issue a top priority. One program permits former islanders to visit the graves of their family members.

At the rally, Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa described the territorial issue as the biggest sticking point for the two countries.

He promised to try to fulfill the hopes of former islanders, who are advancing in age.

The rally participants issued a statement appealing for the return of the four islands.

The appeal included the phrase "illegal occupation" for the first time in five years.