Russia’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned Japanese Ambassador Akira Muto to lodge a formal protest after Japan condemned President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to Iturup, one of the southern Kuril Islands. The islands, which Russia controls but Japan refers to as the Northern Territories, have been disputed since the Soviet Union seized them at the end of World War II.

Japanese officials denounce the visit

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called Putin’s trip “incompatible with the Japanese position on the Northern Territories” and “absolutely unacceptable.” Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi echoed the sentiment, stating that the islands are Japan’s inherent territory under history and international law.

Russia’s response

Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin told Ambassador Muto that Russia’s sovereignty over the southern Kurils is “absolutely unshakable” and rooted in World II agreements and the U.N. Charter. He warned that Japan’s “anti‑Russia” statements and its alignment with Western sanctions against Moscow could lead to “appropriate countermeasures.”

Background of the dispute

The Kuril chain stretches between Japan’s Hokkaido island and Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula. After the Soviet Union occupied the four southern islands in 1945, Japan has repeatedly sought a peace treaty to resolve the territorial claim. The disagreement has hindered a formal end to hostilities between the two nations.

Recent developments

During the visit, Putin boarded a Russian warship taking part in Pacific drills and praised former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for fostering closer ties. However, he noted that Japan’s sanctions on Russia following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine have strained the relationship. Moscow maintains that it remains ready to cooperate with regional neighbors, including Japan, despite the ongoing dispute.

Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.