Vladimir Putin Visits Disputed Kuril Islands Sparking Japanese Protest

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the disputed Kuril Islands on Thursday, specifically touring the island of Iturup. This marked the first time a Russian president has visited the archipelago since 2010. During the trip, Putin visited the Yasny fish-processing plant and oversaw navy drills in Russia's Far East, including live-fire naval exercises and an underwater explosion observed from the missile cruiser Varyag off Sakhalin Island.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the visit as "absolutely unacceptable," stating that the islands are an inherent part of Japan and that the visit "hurts the feelings of the Japanese people." In response to the provocation, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned the Russian ambassador in Tokyo to lodge a formal protest, warning that the move could further damage bilateral relations.

The islands were seized by the Soviet Union in 1945, and Japan maintains their return is a prerequisite for a formal peace treaty. Simultaneously, Russian Ambassador Nikolai Nozdrev and Chinese Ambassador Wu Jianghao issued a joint statement opposing attempts to revise World War Two results and warning against re-militarisation in the Asia-Pacific. The region remains strategically vital for Moscow's Pacific military access and contains significant oil, gas, and fishing resources.