Japan Protests Putin's Visit to Disputed Kuril Islands

Japan has lodged a strong protest against Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Iturup Island, part of the disputed Kuril Islands chain. The islands, which Japan claims as its Northern Territories, are a long-standing point of contention between the two nations. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, along with other government officials, has declared Putin's visit unacceptable.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to the disputed island is completely unacceptable.

This marks the first time the Russian president has visited the contested islands. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi echoed the sentiment, condemning the visit and emphasizing that Japan considers the islands, which it refers to as Etorofu, to be its sovereign territory. The visit is seen by Japan as a direct blow to the feelings of the Japanese people.

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The visit by President Putin to the island in dispute is completely unacceptable.

The territorial dispute over the four southernmost islands in the Kuril chain has persisted for decades, preventing Russia and Japan from signing a formal peace treaty following World War II. The Soviet Union occupied the islands after the war, expelling nearly 17,000 Japanese residents. Russia considers the Kuril Islands strategically important, hosting an airbase on Iturup Island. The ongoing dispute continues to strain relations between Tokyo and Moscow.

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According to international law, Japan has sovereignty over this island group, and President Putin's visit is an attack on the feelings of the Japanese people.