Japan protests Putin's first visit to disputed Kuril Islands

Published Aug 13, 07:41 AM UTC

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kuril Islands on Thursday for the first time, prompting a strong protest from Japan, which claims the territory as its Northern Territories. The islands were seized by the Soviet Union in 1945 at the end of World War II. Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi issued a statement condemning the visit, asserting the islands are an inherent part of Japan under international law. Relations between the two countries have deteriorated since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Japan joining G7 sanctions against Russia and providing aid to Kyiv. Putin, who also visited Sakhalin for security meetings, dismissed Japan's sanctions as unprovoked and accused Japan of territorial claims against Russia. The disputed archipelago, home to about 20,000 Russian citizens, holds strategic and economic value with mineral deposits and rich fishing grounds.