Putin's First Trip To The Pacific Island Chain Claimed By Japan Draws A Protest From Tokyo

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kuril Islands, a Moscow-controlled Pacific archipelago also claimed by Japan, marking his first trip to the territory. During the visit, Putin toured a fish plant, hospital and school on Iturup, one of the volcanic chain's southern islands, and met with the governor of Russia's Sakhalin region, Valery Limarenko.

Japan asserts territorial rights to the four southernmost islands of the chain, which it calls the Northern Territories. The Soviet Union acquired them from Japan in the final days of World War II, and the territorial dispute has prevented the countries from signing a formal peace treaty. Decades of diplomatic negotiations have not resolved the disagreement. Russia has expanded its military presence on the Kurils in recent years.

Japan lodged a formal protest against Putin's visit. Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated that his country "strongly protests" The trip and said, "The Northern Territories, including Etorofu (Iturup) Island, are Japan's inherent territory both historically and from the perspective of international law." Motegi summoned Russian Ambassador Nikolay Nozdrev to the ministry in Tokyo and requested that he "promptly report the message back to Moscow." Japan had also protested when Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin visited Iturup in 2021.

Putin said Wednesday that the current status of the Kuril Islands "is enshrined in international documents as a reality that arose following the outcome of the World War II," And added that "Russia was prepared to seek a solution with the goal of concluding a peace treaty with Japan." He noted that Moscow "had developed constructive relations with a number of Japanese leaders, including the tragically deceased former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who did much to bring Japan and Russia closer together," But said Japan imposed sanctions on Russia after it sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Putin's visit is "incompatible with the Japanese position on the Northern Territories" And is "absolutely unacceptable." She stated that the visit has "further hardened Japanese public sentiment toward Russia and has made it more difficult to restore bilateral relations in the medium to long term."

Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's deputy chair of the Security Council, responded that the Kuril Islands "were, are, and will remain Russian land," Adding that those who fail to understand this "will face the monstrous consequences of their delusion."