Russia summons Japan ambassador over disputed Kuril Islands row after Putin visit
Moscow said on Monday it had summoned the Japanese ambassador after Tokyo condemned President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to Russia’s far-eastern Kuril Islands, which are also claimed by Japan. Russian-Japanese relations have long been dogged by the contested islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories and seized by the Soviet Union in 1945. Putin, 73, travelled to the islands after…
Moscow has summoned the Japanese ambassador in response to Tokyo's criticism of President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, which Japan also claims. The Kuril Islands, known as the Northern Territories in Japan, were seized by the Soviet Union in 1945. The incident occurred after Putin traveled to the islands following a visit to the Russian island of Sakhalin.
In reaction, Japan summoned Russia's ambassador, Akira Muto. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that Japan's actions were "crossing the line of decency" and that the ambassador had been summoned to address the conduct of Japan's leadership. Lavrov's office later confirmed that Muto's summons was intended to address the behavior of Japanese officials and the appropriate conduct of ambassadors in host countries.
Tensions between the two nations have escalated since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with Japan joining other G7 nations in sanctioning Russia and providing financial and non-lethal military aid to Ukraine.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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