ITURUP ISLAND — Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup Island on August 13, 2026, marking his first trip to the disputed Southern Kuril Islands. The visit prompted an immediate diplomatic response from Japan, where Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi issued a televised statement condemning the action.

Iturup Island is known as Etorofu in Japan and is the largest of the disputed territories. These islands are referred to as the Northern Territories in Japan and include Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and the Habomai Islands. Russia has occupied the islands since the end of World War II, while Japan claims sovereignty over them. This longstanding dispute has prevented Japan and Russia from signing a peace treaty to conclude World War II.

Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin summoned Japan’s ambassador to Moscow, Akira Muto, to lodge a formal protest. The meeting took place on Tuesday at Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Akira Muto left the meeting after 25 minutes without commenting, though the Japanese Embassy stated that the meeting lasted approximately 20 minutes. The embassy also stated that Muto appropriately explained the Japanese position on the Northern Territories and Putin’s recent visit during the meeting.

“The Russian side stated that Russia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over the southern Kuril Islands are inviolable,” Galuzin said during the diplomatic meeting. He added that "Russia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over the southern Kuril Islands are absolutely unshakable." “Any attempts by the Japanese side to directly or indirectly call this obvious reality into question are categorically unacceptable and illegitimate,” he said.

He further stated that any such attempts are absolutely unacceptable and unlawful. He told Muto that Moscow reserves the right to take appropriate countermeasures in view of Tokyo's adherence to Western sanctions against Russia and its support for Ukraine.

Putin traveled to oversee military exercises in person before stopping at Iturup Island. Russia’s Pacific Fleet conducted naval drills near the disputed islands, and Japan protested the naval drills. The live-fire exercises around two of the four Kuril Islands are scheduled to last until August 29, 2026.

Putin also spoke aboard a Russian warship taking part in drills in the Pacific. During a speech, he noted that "Moscow previously had developed constructive relations with a number of Japanese leaders, including the tragically deceased former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who did much to bring Japan and Russia closer together, to align our positions." Putin stated that Japan imposed sanctions on Russia after it sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022 and that Japan listed Russia as a source of primary threats. “Russia remains ready to cooperate with all its neighbors, including Japan and other states in the region,” Putin said.

On August 13, 2026, the Chinese and Russian ambassadors to Japan issued a joint statement. They pledged to oppose attempts to revise the results of World War II and warned against remilitarization in the region. The ambassadors said the contribution of their people to the victory in World War II laid a solid foundation for the postwar world order.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Takaichi’s comments on Putin’s visit had crossed the line of decency. Lavrov also criticized Tokyo’s militaristic line. Since 2022, Japan has joined the United States and European states in condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and imposing sanctions on Russia.

Japan has joined other G7 countries in sanctioning Russia and giving financial and non-lethal defense aid to Ukraine. Ukraine recognizes Japan’s claim over the disputed islands, and Japan indirectly supports Ukraine’s air defense by exporting domestically produced Patriot interceptor missiles to the United States. After Japan imposed sanctions, Russia formally suspended peace treaty negotiations and canceled visa-free travel for Japanese nationals to visit ancestral graves on the disputed islands. Japan imported 9 percent of its total LNG imports from Russia and began importing Russian petroleum in May 2026. Putin visited a secondary school named after Hero of Russia E.D. Norpolov on Iturup Island. E.D. Norpolov was killed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited the islands in 2010. Russia will hold a lower house election in September 2026, which will be the first Russian lower house election since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Sanae Takaichi has been Prime Minister of Japan and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) since October 2025. She is the first woman to hold the position of Prime Minister of Japan or President of the LDP in Japanese history.

Why It Matters

The visit by Vladimir Putin to Iturup Island marks the first time he has traveled to the disputed Southern Kuril Islands, escalating tensions in a relationship already strained by the war in Ukraine. The dispute over these islands has prevented Japan and Russia from signing a peace treaty to conclude World War II, and the recent actions have further complicated diplomatic efforts. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that the visit has hardened public sentiment toward Russia in Japan, making it difficult to restore relations over the medium to long term.

Russia’s assertion of inviolable sovereignty over the islands contrasts with Japan’s claim that they are inherent territory under international law. The diplomatic exchanges, including the summoning of ambassadors and joint statements from Chinese and Russian officials, reflect the broader geopolitical alignments and historical grievances at play. With Russia planning a lower house election in September 2026 and Japan continuing to support Ukraine through sanctions and indirect aid, the path to resolving the territorial dispute appears increasingly distant.

Timeline

The Soviet Union seized the islands from Japan in 1945.

Japan began importing Russian petroleum in May 2026. The Russian President's visit to Iturup Island took place on August 13, 2026, as reported by TASS. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi issued a televised statement on August 13, 2026, condemning Putin's visit. “The Northern Territories, including Etorofu Island, are Japan’s inherent territory both historically and from the perspective of international law.”

What's New

Additional reporting confirms that “Russia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over the southern Kuril Islands are absolutely unshakable.” The disputed islands include Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and the Habomai Islands. “The Northern Territories are inherently part of Japan’s territory, both historically and under international law.” Japan summoned the Russian ambassador to protest Putin's visit. Sanae Takaichi stated that Putin's visit was incompatible with the Japanese position on the Northern Territories. Ukraine recognizes Japan’s claim over the disputed islands.

How Sources Differ

Reports differ on the duration of the meeting between Akira Muto and Mikhail Galuzin. One source states that Akira Muto left the meeting at Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs after 25 minutes without commenting. Another source, citing the Russian Foreign Ministry press release, notes that Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin summoned Japan’s ambassador to Moscow, Akira Muto, to lodge a formal protest, but does not specify the duration.