Putin visited Kuril Islands to 'punish' Japan over Ukraine stance

Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unprecedented visit to the Kuril Islands, a group of disputed islands off Japan's northern coast, last week. This move sparked an immediate furious reaction from Japan, with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi deeming the visit "absolutely unacceptable" and referring to the islands as "inherently Japanese territory." The Russian Foreign Ministry countered by asserting that the islands are an "integral part of Russia."

The Kuril Islands were taken by Soviet forces just two weeks after Japan's official surrender, marking the end of World War II in 1945. Over a thousand Japanese residents were forced to leave the islands in the following year. Putin toured a school, a hospital, and industrial facilities on Iturup, the island known to Japan as Etorofu, during his visit. This tour came just two days before the 81st anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.

International relations expert James Brown from Tokyo's Temple University University told DW that Russia's visit to the Kuril Islands was a clear message to Japan. He stated that Russia's anger over Japan's support for Ukraine and Tokyo's growing ties with European NATO members likely played a role in this move. The professor also noted that Russia may be attempting to weaken Japan's stance on security issues, taking advantage of Prime Minister Takaichi's softening domestic poll numbers.

The issue of the Kuril Islands has long been a source of tension between Russia and Japan. Successive Japanese governments have consistently maintained that the islands were unlawfully annexed by Russia, undermining bilateral relations to the extent that a formal peace treaty between the two nations has yet to be signed. Despite the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and subsequent economic challenges, Japan had hoped for Russian cooperation in return for economic assistance or the joint development of the region.

However, Russia amended its constitution in 2020, prohibiting the cession of any part of its territory to a foreign power, thus firmly blocking any possibility of returning the islands to Japan.

Meanwhile, Japan and Russia's relations have further deteriorated since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Japan has already summoned the Russian ambassador and lodged a formal diplomatic protest, but sanctions already imposed over the Ukraine war have limited further punitive measures. Shigemura, a professor at Tokyo's Waseda University, believes that Russia, potentially in collusion with China and North Korea, is attempting to weaken Japan's position by leveraging the firm stance taken by Prime Minister Takaichi.

He also added that even after Putin leaves office, there would be no incentive for a new Russian government to return the islands.