---
title: "Japan Protests Putin's Visit to Disputed Kuril Islands"
url: https://projectchintan.com/article/japan-protests-putin-visit-disputed-kuril-islands-gyhqb
publisher: Project Chintan
author: Project Chintan Newsroom
section: Politics
published: 2026-08-13T08:00:34.648Z
modified: 2026-08-13T10:45:06.101Z
language: en-IN
---

# Japan Protests Putin's Visit to Disputed Kuril Islands

Japan has strongly protested Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, asserting historical and legal claims to the territory. The territorial dispute has prevented a post-World War II peace treaty between the two nations.

## Key takeaways

- Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the disputed Kuril Islands on Thursday.
- Japan strongly protests the visit, asserting historical and legal claims to the islands.
- The territorial dispute over the Kurils has prevented a peace treaty between Russia and Japan since World War II.
- Russia administers the islands and has increased its military presence there.

Japan lodged a strong protest following Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit on Thursday to the Kuril Islands, a chain of islands claimed by both nations. This marks the first time a Russian president has visited the disputed territory.

## What Happened

During his visit, President Putin visited Iturup, which is known as Etorofu in Japan. The Kuril Islands lie between Japan's northernmost prefecture, Hokkaido, and Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula. Russia administers four of the southernmost islands, which Japan considers its Northern Territories. These islands were annexed by the Soviet Union at the end of World War II, leading to the deportation of approximately 17,000 Japanese residents.

## Why It Matters

The long-standing territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands is the primary reason Moscow and Tokyo have not signed a peace treaty since World War II. Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi reiterated that the islands are historically and legally Japanese territory. The Kurils are strategically important for Russia, which has increased its military presence there over the last decade. Iturup serves as a key military air base for Russia in the region. Japan has previously protested visits by other Russian officials to the islands.

## Background

Attempts to resolve the territorial dispute have yielded minimal progress over the years. Bilateral relations have remained strained, further complicated by Japan's imposition of sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Recent joint naval patrols by Chinese and Russian warships have passed through a strait in the Kuril Islands, and Russia conducts regular military exercises nearby, which have drawn criticism from Japan.

## Key Facts

- Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kuril Islands on Thursday.

- Japan's Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated the islands are "inherently Japanese territory both historically and under international law."

- The Kuril Islands are disputed between Russia and Japan.

- The Soviet Union annexed the islands and deported around 17,000 Japanese residents at the end of World War II.

- Russia has increased its military presence on the islands over the past decade.

---
Canonical: https://projectchintan.com/article/japan-protests-putin-visit-disputed-kuril-islands-gyhqb
Reported from: Multiple Sources