Story perspectives

Japan condemns Putin’s Kurils visit, summons Russian ambassador

8/13/2026

Summary

Putin Visits Kuril Island

President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup Island in the Kurils on Aug. 13, 2026.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the visit absolutely unacceptable and said it hurts Japanese feelings.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned Russian ambassador Nikolai Nozdrev, asserting the islands are Japan’s inherent territory.
Putin toured a fish-processing plant, a hospital and a school, met Governor Valery Limarenko, and noted the islands host 20,000 people, gold, silver and rich fishing grounds.

Summary

Ambassadors Oppose Revision

Russian ambassador Nikolai Nozdrev and Chinese ambassador Wu Jianghao issued a joint statement opposing any revision of World War II outcomes.
The statement followed North Korea’s ballistic-missile launch toward waters off the Korean Peninsula and major naval drills that deployed Russia’s Pacific Fleet in the Far East.
The ambassadors warned against re-militarisation in the Asia-Pacific, issuing the warning two days before Japan marks the 81st anniversary of its World War II surrender.

History

Historical Context

The 1956 Soviet-Japanese Joint Declaration of 19 October ended the war and pledged to hand over Shikotan and the Habomai islets—about 5 % of the Kuril chain—after a peace treaty, but no treaty was ever signed. Putin’s 13 August 2026 visit to Iturup, Russia’s largest disputed island, revived Moscow’s claim, prompting Japanese leaders to denounce the trip as unacceptable.

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Putin Visits Kuril Island

President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup Island in the Kurils on Aug. 13, 2026.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the visit absolutely unacceptable and said it hurts Japanese feelings.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned Russian ambassador Nikolai Nozdrev, asserting the islands are Japan’s inherent territory.
Putin toured a fish-processing plant, a hospital and a school, met Governor Valery Limarenko, and noted the islands host 20,000 people, gold, silver and rich fishing grounds.

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