Japan said Putin’s visit could further damage efforts to improve relations between Tokyo and Moscow. Japan claims sovereignty over Iturup and three other Russian-administered islands in the Kuril chain, which it refers to as the “Northern Territories.”
The Japanese government lodged a strong protest on Thursday following Putin’s visit to Iturup, one of the four islands at the centre of a long-running territorial and diplomatic dispute between the two countries.
The four islands were administered by Japan before World War II but came under Soviet control after Japan’s defeat at the end of the war. Tokyo has continued to claim sovereignty over the islands and considers their return a key condition for signing a formal peace treaty with Russia.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned Putin’s visit in statements to television and on social media platform X.
Takaichi said Putin had announced plans in January 2024 to visit the disputed islands, after which the Japanese government had asked Moscow not to allow the Russian president to visit the Northern Territories.
She described Putin’s visit to Iturup as “extremely regrettable” and said Japan strongly protested the move.
Takaichi reiterated that the Northern Territories are Japanese territory both historically and under international law. She said Japan had made efforts to improve strained relations with Russia following the war in Ukraine, but Putin’s visit could make efforts to restore bilateral ties even more difficult.
She also said she hoped the Russian government would fully understand the seriousness of the issue.
Putin’s visit comes as Japan marks 81 years since its defeat in World War II, an anniversary that carries particular significance in the long-running territorial dispute.
Relations between Russia and Japan deteriorated further after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Japan, along with the United States and European countries, imposed sanctions on Russia in response.
During his visit to Iturup, Putin toured a fish-processing plant, where local officials briefed him on fisheries and marine resources.
Russian state media released footage showing Putin wearing a dark suit while meeting officials during the visit.
According to Russia’s state-run TASS news agency, this was Putin’s first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev became the first Russian leader to visit the disputed islands when he travelled to them in 2010.
The territorial dispute over the islands has prevented Russia and Japan from formally ending their state of war dating back to World War II with a peace treaty. Putin’s latest visit is likely to further complicate already strained relations between the two countries.
