Russia Summons Japanese Ambassador as Dispute Over Kuril Islands Flares Up

On Tuesday, Japan summoned Russia's ambassador to Tokyo following President Vladimir Putin's visit to the Kuril Islands. Japan protests the visit due to historical tensions over the disputed islands, which Russia claims were illegally taken by the Soviet Union during WWII. The Kuril Islands, located north of Hokkaido in Japan, have yet to see a formal peace treaty between Russia and Japan.

Putin's trip to Iturup, known as Etorofu in Japan, was the first by a Russian president since Dmitry Medvedev's visit in 2010. In response, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi denounced the visit as "absolutely unacceptable" and summoned Russia's ambassador in Tokyo. In retaliation, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Japan of crossing the line of decency with its protest and summoned Japan's ambassador to Moscow, Akira Moto.

Moto initially refused to attend, leading to frustration from Lavrov. However, he eventually confirmed he would attend on Tuesday after Russian authorities reported his health had improved. Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported that Moto delayed his response out of concern that Russian officials would dominate the exchange. Tokyo instructed Moto to attend following internal deliberations.

Moto spent around 20 minutes inside the Foreign Ministry building in Moscow and declined to answer questions from reporters. Russia's Foreign Ministry stated that Moto was summoned over Takaichi's anti-Russian comments, emphasizing that Moscow reserves the right to take appropriate countermeasures. Relations between Tokyo and Moscow have deteriorated since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Japan has joined G7 partners in imposing sanctions against Moscow and provides financial and some military aid to Ukraine.