Why Putin’s first Kuril Islands visit has shocked Japan: Why did he go there now, and how is a WW2-era dispute pushing Russia and Japan further apart?

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to a disputed island near Japan has brought a long-running territorial disagreement back into the spotlight, with Tokyo issuing a strong protest and Moscow refusing to back down.

Putin visited Iturup, known as Etorofu in Japan, one of the four Kuril Islands claimed by both Russia and Japan. His trip comes at a particularly sensitive moment, as tensions between Moscow and Tokyo remain strained over Russia’s war in Ukraine and the two countries’ unresolved territorial dispute.

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Why are the Kuril Islands disputed?

The Kuril Islands dispute dates back to the final days of World War Two. Russia seized the four islands shortly after Japan surrendered in 1945.

Japan has continued to claim the islands and has made their return a key condition for formally concluding a peace treaty with Russia. The territorial disagreement has remained a major obstacle to closer relations between the two countries. Iturup is one of the four islands at the heart of the dispute.

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Why did Putin’s visit anger Japan?

Putin’s trip was immediately condemned by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The island is claimed by Japan, making the Russian president’s appearance there especially provocative from Tokyo’s perspective.

The Japanese prime minister said the visit "hurts the feelings ⁠of the ⁠Japanese people and is absolutely unacceptable," adding, "We hope that the Russian side will take the seriousness of this matter fully to heart."

Japan’s Foreign Ministry subsequently summoned Russian ambassador Nikolai Nozdrev to lodge a formal protest.

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Russia rejects Japan’s protest

Moscow quickly pushed back against Tokyo’s criticism. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said the Japanese prime minister’s comments "cause extreme outrage and are absolutely unacceptable".

Zakharova insisted that Iturup was "legally, like all the Kurils, an integral part of our country" and accused Japanese officials of trying to dictate where Russia’s leader could travel.

The Russian embassy in Tokyo similarly maintained that the islands were Russian territory acquired on "legitimate international grounds".

It added that "The President's ⁠travels within our country are entirely a matter for the Russian leadership to decide and cannot be the subject of discussion with foreign states,".

What did Putin do on the disputed island?

Putin’s trip was not simply a symbolic stop. According to Russia’s state news agency TASS, he visited a school, a hospital and a fish-processing plant.

During the visit, Putin also appeared relaxed while speaking to local residents. In a video released by the Kremlin, he remarked: "What lovely weather you have there, just like a resort!"

The visit was reportedly Putin’s first trip to the disputed island chain. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev became the first Russian leader to visit the islands in 2010.

Why the timing of Putin’s Kuril Islands visit matters

Putin visited the island just two days before Japan was due to mark 81 years since its surrender ended World War Two. His trip also came a day after North Korea fired a missile into the sea separating it from Japan, ahead of major joint military exercises involving South Korea and the United States.

Relations between Russia and Japan have also deteriorated sharply since Putin ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Japan joined other countries in condemning Russia’s actions and imposed sanctions on Moscow.

Russia signals it will not give up the islands

The dispute was reinforced by former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, who posted on X that the islands "were, are, and will remain Russian land".

He added: "Anyone who fails to understand this will face the monstrous consequences of their delusion."

The exchange highlights why the Kuril Islands dispute remains so difficult to resolve. Japan continues to claim the islands, while Russia insists they are an integral part of its territory.

For now, Putin’s Kuril Islands visit has once again placed the decades-old territorial dispute at the centre of Russia-Japan tensions.

FAQs

Why did Putin visit the Kuril Islands?

Putin visited Iturup to meet residents and visit a school, hospital and fish-processing plant, while also reinforcing Russia’s claim over the disputed territory.

Why are the Kuril Islands disputed?

Russia seized the islands in the final days of World War Two. Japan continues to claim four of them and has sought their return as part of efforts to resolve the territorial dispute.

Why is Putin’s visit controversial in Japan?

Japan considers the islands disputed territory and strongly objects to Russia’s control over them. Tokyo called Putin’s visit “absolutely unacceptable.”

What is the Kuril Islands dispute?

It is a decades-old territorial disagreement between Russia and Japan over four southern Kuril Islands, which Japan calls the Northern Territories.

How has the WW2 dispute affected Russia-Japan relations?

The territorial disagreement has prevented the two countries from fully resolving their post-WW2 relationship through a formal peace treaty and remains a major source of tension.