Why Putin is testing Japan’s limits with visit to contested Pacific islands

The Russian leader’s first visit to the disputed Kuril islands has exposed how far ties between Moscow and Tokyo have deteriorated, and why Japan has grown increasingly assertive in expanding its military capabilities. Namita Singh writes

AP —  Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday made his first visit to the Kuril Islands, a Moscow-controlled Pacific archipelago that also is claimed by Japan, which voiced a diplomatic protest over the trip. Putin visited a fish plant, a hospital and a school on Iturup, one of the volcanic chain’s southern island

Within hours, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed the prime minister's comments, saying they "cause extreme outrage and are absolutely unacceptable".

Options include further strengthening economic sanctions on Russia and temporarily recalling Japan's ambassador to the nation.

The Russian leader flexes Moscow’s muscles in the Far East with his first visit to islands seized by the Soviets after the Second World War.

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.

The US ambassador said Washington was "unwavering" in recognising Japanese sovereignty, after Putin's visit to the four islands occupied by the Soviet Union in 1945 prompted Japan to summon Moscow's ambassador and consider tightening sanctions against Russia.

Relations between Moscow and Tokyo have waxed and waned over the years, but the Kurils have always been a sticking point

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

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan is considering taking some measure against Russia, following President Vladimir Putin's visit to Etorofu Island, a senior Forei

Japan protested Vladimir Putin’s first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, escalating tensions over territory claimed by both Tokyo and Moscow.

US backs Japan over Putin trip to disputed islands  euractiv.com

Its foreign ministry spokesperson said the Japanese prime minister’s remarks were ‘politically inappropriate’, ‘insulting’ and ‘legally unfounded’.

Since taking power, Vladimir Putin has pursued a peace treaty with Japan, asserting Russia’s sovereignty over the islands while saying he is willing to negotiate on the basis of the 1956 declaration. Japan and Russia have also developed economic ties, including in the Kuril Islands.

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.

August 13, 2026 1:25 PM ET Japanese heads of state responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit Thursday to an island that is disputed between the two nations.Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said that the government strongly protests Putin’s visit to Iturup Island and said that he was only made awa

The Japanese government is outraged after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a tiny island north of Hokkaido, a territory that Tokyo has insisted was illegitimately stolen from the country in the final days of World War II. Putin toured the island, known in Russia as Iturup and in Japan as Etorofu, on Thursday. I

The four southernmost islands of the chain also are claimed by Japan, which calls them the Northern Territories.

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday visited Russia’s far-eastern Kuril Islands for the first time, prompting protests by Japan which also claims the territory. 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 1

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said the Russian leader's visit “wounds the feelings” of the Japanese people and further hardens anti-Russian sentiment in her country.

President Vladimir Putin visited Russia's far-eastern Kuril islands for the first time on Thursday, prompting protests by Japan which also claims the territory.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday made his first visit to the Kuril Islands, a Moscow-controlled Pacific archipelago that also is claimed by Japan, which voiced a diplomatic protest over the trip.

Vladimir Putin reignites WW2 row after 'absolutely unacceptable' visit to disputed islands  GB News

Japanese PM says islands seized by Soviets late in second world war are part of Japan under international law The Japanese government has reacted angrily to Vladimir Putin’s first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, which are claimed by both Tokyo and Moscow. Japan’s foreign minister, Toshimitsu Motegi, summoned the R

Putin’s first trip to the Pacific island chain claimed by Japan draws a protest from Tokyo  AP News

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan has been a public critic of Mr. Putin, who has denounced her country’s sanctions against Russia over the Ukraine war.

The four contested isles are part of the volcanic Kuril archipelago, running from Kamchatka to Hokkaido.

Japan’s prime minister rebukes Russian president’s first-ever trip to Kuril Islands

Japan issued a stern rebuke to Moscow after the Russian president visited a chain of islands at the center of a territorial dispute between neighbors.

Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has criticised Vladimir Putin'sfirst-ever visit to the disputed Kuril islands on Thursday as "absolutely unacceptable".

Japanese PM says Putin's visit to the Pacific island chain, seized by the Soviet Union in 1945, is 'unacceptable'.

The four contested isles are part of the volcanic Kuril archipelago, running from Kamchatka to Hokkaido.

Putin pays his first visit to Pacific island chain claimed by Japan, drawing a protest from Tokyo  cnn.com

Russia's always calm, and always rational not-at-all war-mad President Vladimir Putin has been seen firing missiles from a heavily armed missile ship while talking about the Soviet Union

Russia has boosted its military presence on the disputed islands in recent years.

It was the first time the Russian leader had visited the Kuril islands, according to state media.

The Kuril archipelago has repeatedly fueled tensions between Tokyo and Moscow.

Putin's visit has sparked further tensions between Moscow and Tokyo, whose ties have worsened since the start of the war in Ukraine in 2022.

Japan condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to the four disputed islands as 'absolutely unacceptable,' with its prime minister saying they 'are an inherent part of Japan's territory.' Japan summoned Russia's ambassador.

Japan condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to the four disputed islands as 'absolutely unacceptable,' with its prime minister saying they 'are an inherent part of Japan's territory.' Japan summoned Russia's ambassador.

Putin pays his first visit to Pacific island chain claimed by Japan, drawing a protest from Tokyo  Toronto Star

Japan protests President Putin’s first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, escalating tensions over the territory seized by the Soviet Union in 1945.

Japan says it "strongly protests" Russian President Vladimir Putin's trip to the disputed Kuril Islands. Tensions over the Russian-controlled archipelago, claimed partly by Japan, have long dogged bilateral ties.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the disputed Kuril Islands for the first time. This visit occurred amid deeply strained relations between Russia and Japan. Japan strongly protests the visit, reiterating its territorial claims over the islands. The long-standing dispute has intensified since Russia's invasio

MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the far-eastern Kuril islands for the first time on Thursday (Jun 13), prompting a "strong" protest by Japan which also claims the territory.Russian-Japanese relations have long been dogged by tensions over the contested islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territorie

Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the Kuril Islands, state news agency Tass reported Thursday. The islands are disputed with Japan.

Russia's Putin visits disputed Kuril Islands, samples fish roe, media say  Reuters