Diplomacy & Geopolitics
Putin Kurils visit draws Japan protest
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Russia's far-eastern Kuril islands on Thursday, drawing protests from Japan, which also claims the disputed territory it calls the Northern Territories.
The Kremlin posted video of Putin on one of the four main islands. Russian media said he visited a fish-processing plant and was shown trying local caviar. It was the first visit by a Russian president to the islands since Dmitry Medvedev went there in 2010.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the islands are “an inherent part of Japan's territory, both historically and under international law”. She said Putin's visit “offends the sentiments of the Japanese people and is absolutely unacceptable” and would make it harder to restore relations.
Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned Russian Ambassador Nikolai Nozdrev to lodge a “strong protest”. Japan's foreign ministry said Motegi told Nozdrev the visit would have an “extremely negative impact on Japan-Russia relations”.
Russia's embassy in Japan said Nozdrev told Japanese officials the islands are “an integral part of the Russian Federation”, that their status is not in doubt and that Putin's travel there was not a matter for discussion with foreign states.
Putin travelled to the Kurils after visiting the nearby Russian island of Sakhalin on Wednesday, where Russia's navy was conducting drills. State media reported that he held a meeting in Sakhalin on the security of Russia's eastern borders.
Relations between Japan and Russia have worsened since Russia's full-scale conflict in Ukraine began in 2022. Japan has joined other G7 countries in sanctioning Russia and giving money and non-lethal defence aid to Kyiv. Putin called Japan's sanctions “unprovoked” and said Russia was not threatening Japan.
The Soviet Union seized the islands in 1945 and deported their Japanese population. About 20,000 Russian citizens live on the islands, which have mineral deposits and rich fishing grounds.
Update
Russia's embassy in Japan said Ambassador Nikolai Nozdrev told Japanese officials the islands are an integral part of the Russian Federation and not a matter for discussion with foreign states.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Putin's visit made it more difficult to restore relations in the medium to long term.
The item adds further context on regional military tensions involving Russia, China and North Korea around Japan.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 13:36:27 UTC.
Update
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Putin’s visit offended the sentiments of the Japanese people and was absolutely unacceptable.
Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told Russia’s ambassador the visit would have an extremely negative impact on relations.
Putin called Japan’s sanctions against Russia unprovoked on Wednesday.
Putin held a meeting in Sakhalin on ensuring the security of Russia’s eastern borders, according to RIA Novosti.
The item adds context on Russian military activity, Japan’s sanctions over Ukraine and the islands’ population, resources and strategic value.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 10:18:15 UTC.
Update
Japan’s foreign ministry said Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned Russian Ambassador Nikolai Nozdrev.
Japan said the protest followed reports that Putin visited Etorofu Island on August 13.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 09:59:39 UTC.
Update
Japan said it summoned the Russian ambassador after Vladimir Putin visited the disputed islands.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 09:45:00 UTC.
Update
Russian media said Putin visited a fish-processing plant and was given caviar.
The visit was the first by a Russian president to the islands since Dmitry Medvedev in 2010.
The source added details on the islands' population, mineral deposits, fishing grounds and Russian military fortifications.
University of Tokyo professor Yee Kuang Heng said the visit may signal Putin's displeasure with Japan's sanctions on Russia.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 08:34:42 UTC.
Update
Vladimir Putin visited the Kuril islands for the first time, according to the item.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the visit offended Japanese sentiment and made restoring relations more difficult in the medium to long term.
The item adds context on Russia-China military exercises around Japan, North Korea's support for Russia, and Japan's latest defence white paper.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 08:01:11 UTC.
Update
Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi said Putin's visit to the disputed islands was unacceptable.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 07:39:13 UTC.
Update
Putin called Japan's sanctions against Russia “unprovoked” and said Russia was not threatening Japan.
The source adds that Russia and China have held joint naval and air exercises around Japan.
Japan's latest defence white paper again highlighted risks from Russia, China and North Korea.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 07:02:15 UTC.
Update
It was Vladimir Putin's first visit to the Kuril islands.
The Kremlin posted video of Putin in the Kuril Islands.
Russian media said Putin visited a fish-processing plant where he was given caviar.
Putin travelled to the Kurils after visiting Sakhalin, where Russia's navy was conducting drills.
RIA Novosti said Putin held a meeting in Sakhalin on ensuring the security of Russia's eastern borders.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 04:51:05 UTC.
Update
Japan strongly protested Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to the disputed Kuril islands.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said Japan regards the Northern Territories as an inherent part of its territory historically and under international law.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 04:26:13 UTC.
Update
Russian state media said Putin inspected the flagship of Russia's Pacific Fleet during the visit.
The item adds that the islands are known in Japan as the Northern Territories and were seized by the Soviet Union in 1945.
The item adds details on the four contested isles, their population, resources and the stalled history of Russia-Japan talks.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 04:12:27 UTC.
Update
TASS reported that Putin inspected the flagship of Russia's Pacific Fleet during the visit.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 03:48:58 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The final status of the disputed islands remains contested between Japan and Russia.
Source
AFP news report published on .