Putin Visits Disputed Kuril Islands, Prompting Formal Protest From Japan
On Thursday, August 13, 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited islands seized from Japan at the end of World War II in the Kurils, prompting a formal protest from Tokyo.[1]
Putin said Russia's claim to the islands is a "reality" "enshrined in international documents" and accused Japan of asserting territorial claims against Moscow.[1] Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the visit "absolutely unacceptable," and Japan's Foreign Ministry summoned Russia's ambassador to lodge a formal protest.[1]
Russia seized the islands from Japan at the end of World War II.[1] The visit came as Russia conducted large-scale military exercises in surrounding seas and as Japan maintained sanctions tied to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.[1]
Tokyo's formal protest underscores that the islands remain a volatile and unresolved issue in bilateral relations, complicating any immediate prospects for a broader diplomatic thaw.
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📌 Key Facts
- On Thursday, August 13, 2026, Vladimir Putin visited islands Russia seized from Japan at the end of World War II.
- Putin said Russia's claim to the islands is a 'reality' 'enshrined in international documents' and accused Japan of having territorial claims against Russia.
- Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the visit as 'absolutely unacceptable' and said the islands are an inherent part of Japan's territory.
- Japan's Foreign Ministry summoned Russia's ambassador on August 13, 2026, to protest Putin's visit.
- The visit occurred as Russia conducted large-scale military exercises in surrounding seas and amid Japanese sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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