Why Putin Chose the Kurils Now – and What It Means for Ukraine

Putin’s first visit to the disputed Kurils deepens tensions with Japan and shows how Moscow is linking its war against Ukraine to a broader confrontation in the Indo-Pacific.

Vladimir Putin’s unprecedented visit to the disputed southern Kuril Islands is among a broader joint push by Beijing and Moscow to pressure Japan over a range of grievances, including sanctions on Russia and the Taiwan issue, experts say. The Russian president’s symbolic visit on Thursday to the far east volcanic archi