Japan condemns visit by Vladimir Putin to disputed Kuril Islands
Japanese PM says islands seized by Soviets late in second world war are part of Japan under international law The Japanese government has reacted angrily to Vladimir Putin’s first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, which are claimed by both Tokyo and Moscow. Japan’s foreign minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, summoned the Russian ambassador Nikolay Nozdrev, while the prime minister, Sanae Takaichi,…
Japan has strongly condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, which are claimed by both Tokyo and Moscow. The islands, also known as the Northern Territories by Japan and the Southern Kurils by Russia, were seized by the Soviet Union in the final stages of World War II and have remained a contentious issue between the two nations.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called Putin's actions "absolutely unacceptable," stating that the islands are "both historically and under international law" a part of Japan. This visit follows Russia's recent invasion of Ukraine, which has strained bilateral relations between the two countries. Japan had previously reached an accord with Putin on the territory, allowing Japanese citizens to visit family graves and discuss a future peace treaty.
However, the 2022 Ukrainian conflict led Japan to impose sanctions on individuals and entities linked to Moscow. Despite acknowledging Abe's efforts, Putin called Japan's recent sanctions "unprovoked" and insisted that Russia has territorial claims against Japan.
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