Putin's First Visit to Disputed Pacific Islands Draws Strong Protest from Japan

Russian President Vladimir Putin made his inaugural visit to the disputed Kuril Islands on Thursday, August 13, 2026, triggering an immediate and strong protest from Japan. Tokyo views this visit to the Pacific island chain, which it refers to as the Northern Territories, as incompatible with its long-standing position that the islands are an inherent part of Japanese territory both historically and legally.

During his visit to Iturup (Etorofu in Japanese), one of the southernmost islands, Putin inspected local infrastructure including a fish processing plant, a hospital, and a school. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi strongly condemned the visit, reiterating Japan's unwavering claim to the islands.

The territorial dispute over these four islands dates back to the end of World War II, when Soviet forces seized them from Japan. Russia maintains that its sovereignty over the territory is established by post-war international agreements. This visit by the Russian leader further escalates tensions between Moscow and Tokyo, whose diplomatic relations have already been strained, particularly since Japan reclassified the islands as "illegally occupied" after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.