Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the disputed Iturup (Etorofu) island on Aug. 13, marking his first in‑person trip to the Kuril chain. The move triggered a strong protest from Tokyo, with Japan warning that the visit could further damage already strained bilateral ties amid the Ukraine war.
During the tour Putin inspected the Yasny fish‑processing plant, was presented with caviar and observed navy drills on nearby Sakhalin. Japan’s foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the trip as “absolutely unacceptable,” while Russia’s ambassadors were summoned. The first Russian leader to set foot there was Dmitry Medvedev in 2010.
Tokyo’s condemnation underscores the long‑standing dispute that blocks a formal World War II peace treaty and hampers deeper economic cooperation. The protest adds diplomatic pressure on Moscow and may complicate any future negotiations over the “Northern Territories,” which remain a sensitive political issue for both nations.
A joint statement by the Russian and Chinese ambassadors to Japan, not mentioned in other reports, reiterated opposition to revising World War II outcomes and warned against re‑militarisation in the Asia‑Pacific, adding another diplomatic layer to the dispute.