Japan condemns visit by Vladimir Putin to disputed Kuril Islands
Summary
Japan strongly condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first visit to the Kuril Islands, a group of islands claimed by both Japan and Russia. The dispute over these islands has lasted since the Soviet Union took control near the end of World War II and has blocked a formal peace treaty between the two countries.Key Facts
- The Kuril Islands are claimed by both Japan (which calls them Northern Territories) and Russia (which calls them Southern Kurils).
- The Soviet Union seized the islands in 1945 during the closing stages of World War II.
- Japan’s foreign minister summoned the Russian ambassador to protest Putin’s visit, and the Japanese prime minister called the visit “absolutely unacceptable.”
- The islands are important because they offer access to rich fishing areas and valuable minerals.
- About 17,000 Japanese used to live there; now about 20,000 Russians live on the islands.
- Putin visited the island of Etorofu (Iturup in Russian), toured a hospital, met locals, and tried caviar.
- Russia claims the islands are legally Russian and said their control is recognized in international documents.
- Previous efforts, including those by late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, aimed to improve relations and work toward a peace treaty, but Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine led Japan to impose sanctions on Russia.
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