Putin pays his first visit to Pacific island chain claimed by Japan, drawing protest from Tokyo

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday (August 13, 2026) visited the Kuril Islands, a Russian-controlled Pacific island chain additionally claimed by Japan, for the primary time, drawing protests from Tokyo.

Mr. Putin visited a fish plant, a hospital and a college on Iturup, one of many chain’s southernmost islands. He additionally briefly spoke to native residents and met with the governor of Russia’s Sakhalin area, Valery Limarenko.

Japan asserts territorial rights to the 4 southernmost islands of the chain, which it calls the Northern Territories. The Soviet Union took them from Japan within the ultimate days of World Warfare II, and the dispute saved the nations from signing a peace treaty formally ending their hostilities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visits the Yasny fish processing advanced on the Southern Kuril Island of Iturup
| Picture Credit score:
Reuters

A long time of diplomatic efforts to barter a settlement have not produced any seen outcomes. Moscow through the years has additionally beefed up its army presence on the Kuril Islands in strikes that appeared to underscore its agency stance within the dispute.

Japanese Overseas Minister Toshimitsu Motegi mentioned his nation “strongly protests” in opposition to Putin’s go to to Iturup, which Japan calls Etorofu. “The Northern Territories, together with Etorofu (Iturup) Island, are Japan’s inherent territory each traditionally and from the angle of worldwide regulation,” Mr. Motegi mentioned in an announcement.

Japan additionally protested in 2021 when Russia’s Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin visited Iturup.

Mr. Putin in latest days has visited a number of areas in Russia’s Siberia and the Far East. Earlier than coming to Iturup, the Russian president stopped on Sakhalin Island to attend the ultimate a part of the drills by Russia’s Pacific Fleet.

Talking aboard a warship that was collaborating within the naval workouts, Putin mentioned on Wednesday (August 12) that the present standing of the Kuril Islands “is enshrined in worldwide paperwork as a actuality that arose following the result of the World Warfare II.” “However even right here, Russia was ready to hunt an answer with the objective of concluding a peace treaty with Japan,” he mentioned.

Russian President Vladimir Putin meets navy officers on board a missile cruiser “Varyag” after he noticed a army drill of Pacific fleet, in Russia’s far jap Sakhalin Area
| Picture Credit score:
REUTERS

The Russian chief mentioned that previously, Moscow “had developed constructive relations with numerous Japanese leaders, together with the tragically deceased former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who did a lot to carry Japan and Russia nearer collectively, to align our positions.”

Mr. Putin mentioned the place of Japan, which imposed sanctions on Russia after its despatched troops into Ukraine in February 2022, has since modified.

Nonetheless, Russia is prepared “to cooperate with all its neighbors, together with Japan and different states within the area,” the Russian president mentioned.