Russia summons Japan ambassador over disputed islands row

Moscow has summoned Japan's ambassador in response to Tokyo's criticism of President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to Russia's Kuril Islands, which Japan also claims. These islands, known as the Northern Territories in Japan, were seized by the Soviet Union in 1945. Putin's trip to the islands, following a visit to nearby Sakhalin, prompted Japan to summon Russia's ambassador.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Japan's officials had crossed a line of decency by criticizing Putin's visit. Initially, Tokyo claimed the ambassador could not attend due to unwellness, but later the ambassador felt better and is set to attend on Tuesday. Lavrov emphasized that the summons aimed to address the behavior of Japan's leadership and the appropriate conduct of ambassadors in the host country.

Relations between Japan and Russia have deteriorated since the start of the full-scale conflict in Ukraine in 2022. Japan has joined other G7 nations in imposing sanctions on Russia and providing financial and non-lethal defense aid to Ukraine.