Putin’s Visit to Kuril Islands Sparks Japanese Protests

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kuril Islands on Thursday. This group of islands in the Pacific is controlled by Russia but also claimed by Japan. It marked Putin’s first visit to the islands. This visit drew protests from the Japanese government.

During his visit, Putin toured a fish plant, a hospital, and a school on Iturup, one of the southernmost islands of the chain. He interacted briefly with local residents and met Valery Limarenko, the governor of Russia’s Sakhalin region.

Japan claims territorial rights to the four southernmost islands, which it names the Northern Territories. In the final days of World War II, the Soviet Union took these islands from Japan, and the dispute has prevented the two countries from signing a peace treaty to formally end their hostilities. Despite decades of diplomatic efforts, no settlement has emerged. Meanwhile, Russia has increased its military presence on the islands, emphasizing its stance on the matter.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi expressed strong protests against Putin’s visit to Iturup, referred to by Japan as Etorofu. Motegi stated, “The Northern Territories, including Etorofu (Iturup) Island, are Japan’s inherent territory both historically and from the perspective of international law.” Japan similarly protested in 2021 when Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin visited Iturup.

Before Iturup, Putin visited Russia’s Siberia and Far East, including Sakhalin Island, to observe the final phase of drills by Russia’s Pacific Fleet. Speaking aboard a warship, Putin remarked that the status of the Kuril Islands is recognized in international documents as a reality resulting from World War II. Nevertheless, he indicated Russia’s willingness to seek a peace treaty with Japan.

Putin noted previous efforts to improve relations with Japan, specifically mentioning the late former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who contributed significantly to aligning ties between the two nations. However, Putin commented that Japan’s position changed after it imposed sanctions on Russia following its 2022 military actions in Ukraine.

The Russian president affirmed his readiness to cooperate with neighbors, including Japan and other regional countries.