Japan has protested Vladimir Putin's first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, summoning the Russian ambassador and condemning the trip as 'absolutely unacceptable'.
Key facts
- Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, according to Russian state media.
- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called Putin's actions 'absolutely unacceptable'.
- Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned Russian ambassador Nikolay Nozdrev.
- The islands were seized by the Soviet Union in 1945 and are claimed by both Tokyo and Moscow.
- Japan refers to the four southernmost islands as the Northern Territories.
The Japanese government has reacted angrily to Vladimir Putin’s first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, a Pacific island chain claimed by both Tokyo and Moscow. The visit was the first by the Russian leader to the islands, according to Russian state media.
Japan’s Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, described Putin’s actions as “absolutely unacceptable,” according to the Guardian. The prime minister said the islands, seized by the Soviet Union late in the Second World War, are part of Japan under international law.
In a diplomatic response, Japan’s Foreign Minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, summoned the Russian ambassador, Nikolay Nozdrev, the Guardian reported. The move signalled the seriousness with which Tokyo viewed the visit.
The Kuril Islands were seized by the Soviet Union in 1945, in the closing stages of the Second World War, according to Al Jazeera. The dispute over their ownership has remained a point of tension between the two countries ever since.
Japan claims the four southernmost islands of the chain, which it refers to as the Northern Territories, according to NPR. Moscow maintains its own claim to the islands.
The competing claims have long prevented Japan and Russia from resolving the territorial issue, and Putin’s visit has renewed friction between the two governments.
Why it matters
The Kuril Islands dispute is one of the longest-running territorial disagreements in the region, dating back to the end of the Second World War. Putin's first visit sharpens tensions between Tokyo and Moscow and highlights how unresolved wartime borders continue to shape modern diplomacy.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Japan claim the Kuril Islands?
Japan says the four southernmost islands, which it calls the Northern Territories, are part of its country under international law. The islands were seized by the Soviet Union in 1945.
How did Japan respond to Putin's visit?
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the visit 'absolutely unacceptable', and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned the Russian ambassador, Nikolay Nozdrev.
Was this Putin's first visit to the islands?
Yes. According to Russian state media, it was the first time the Russian leader had visited the Kuril Islands.