Putin Visits Disputed Kuril Islands, Angering Japan

Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first-ever visit to the disputed Kuril Islands on Thursday, drawing strong condemnation from Japan.

Japan Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the visit absolutely unacceptable, asserting the islands are inherently Japanese territory and that Tokyo had repeatedly requested the Russian side to ensure that the president does not visit the Northern Territories. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also protested the visit, and Japan summoned Nikolay Nozdrev, Russia's ambassador in Tokyo, to lodge a strong protest.

The Kuril Islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories, are a sparsely populated volcanic archipelago. The Soviet Union annexed the four southernmost islands (Etorofu/Iturup, Kunashiri, Shikotan, and the Habomai islet group) at the end of World War II. During his trip, Putin visited the island of Iturup, where Russia operates a military base, touring a fish processing complex, a hospital, and a school, and meeting with Sakhalin regional governor Valery Limarenko.

Japan renounced claims to the Kuril Islands in the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco but did not recognize Soviet sovereignty. The territorial dispute has prevented a peace treaty between Tokyo and Moscow since the war. Japan is now considering taking measures against Russia, potentially including additional sanctions. The United States backs Japan's position on Putin's trip.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev stated the Kuril Islands will forever remain Russian land and warned of monstrous consequences if Japan continues its claim. Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War suggested Putin's visit is a response to Japan's recent defense white paper, which identified Moscow as a critical threat. Japan's ties with Russia have deteriorated since the 2022 conflict in Ukraine, with Japan joining G7 sanctions.