Putin Visits the Kuril Islands for the First Time as Japan Lodges Strong Protest
World
Russian President Vladimir Putin has made his first personal visit to the Kuril Islands, travelling to Iturup, the largest island of the archipelago. The visit prompted a strong reaction from Tokyo, with Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs lodging a formal protest with Russia.
The first item on Putin’s programme on Iturup was a visit to a fish-processing complex. The trip was part of the Russian president’s working tour of Siberia and the Russian Far East. Before Putin, Russian state and government leaders had visited the Kuril Islands five times: Dmitry Medvedev made four trips, including as president in 2010 and as prime minister in 2012, 2015 and 2019. In 2021, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin visited Iturup.
Putin’s latest trip marked his first personal visit to the islands. According to Reuters, while on Iturup, the Russian president also visited a fish-processing facility, reviewed its operations and spoke with local residents.
Japan considers Iturup and the other southern Kuril Islands part of what Tokyo calls the “Northern Territories.” The Japanese government said the territories are inherently Japanese from historical and legal perspectives. Japan’s Foreign Ministry lodged a strong protest with Russia over Putin’s visit.
The territorial dispute over the southern Kuril Islands remains one of the major unresolved issues in Russia-Japan relations. The two countries have yet to conclude a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities, with the territorial dispute remaining a central obstacle.
Putin’s latest trip marked his first personal visit to the islands. According to Reuters, while on Iturup, the Russian president also visited a fish-processing facility, reviewed its operations and spoke with local residents.
Japan considers Iturup and the other southern Kuril Islands part of what Tokyo calls the “Northern Territories.” The Japanese government said the territories are inherently Japanese from historical and legal perspectives. Japan’s Foreign Ministry lodged a strong protest with Russia over Putin’s visit.
The territorial dispute over the southern Kuril Islands remains one of the major unresolved issues in Russia-Japan relations. The two countries have yet to conclude a peace treaty formally ending World War II hostilities, with the territorial dispute remaining a central obstacle.
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