- Putin visited Iturup, one of the four southernmost islands of the chain, which Japan calls the Northern Territories.
- Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned Putin's visit as 'incompatible with the Japanese position on the Northern Territories' and stated it is 'absolutely unacceptable.'
- Russia's Foreign Ministry summoned the Japanese ambassador to protest Tokyo's condemnation of President Vladimir Putin's trip to the Kuril Islands.
- Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated that Tokyo 'strongly protests' Putin's visit to Iturup, which Japan calls Etorofu, emphasizing that 'the Northern Territories, including Etorofu Island, are Japan’s inherent territory both historically and from the perspective of international law.'
- Galuzin told the ambassador that in view of Tokyo’s adherence to Western sanctions against Russia and its support for Ukraine, 'Moscow reserves the right to take appropriate countermeasures.'
- Galuzin asserted that 'Russia’s sovereignty and jurisdiction over the southern Kuril Islands are absolutely unshakable.'
- Galuzin warned that 'Any attempts by the Japanese side to directly or indirectly call this obvious reality into question are absolutely unacceptable and unlawful.'
Russia's Foreign Ministry summoned Japan's ambassador on Tuesday, protesting Tokyo's condemnation of President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to the Kuril Islands, a territory claimed by both nations. This diplomatic tension escalated after Putin's visit to Iturup, one of the islands Japan refers to as the Northern Territories.3
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi criticized the visit as 'incompatible with the Japanese position on the Northern Territories' and labeled it 'absolutely unacceptable.' Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi echoed this sentiment, stating that Tokyo 'strongly protests' the visit, emphasizing that 'the Northern Territories, including Etorofu Island, are Japan's inherent territory both historically and from the perspective of international law.'4
In response, Galuzin, a Russian official, asserted that 'Russia's sovereignty and jurisdiction over the southern Kuril Islands are absolutely unshakable.' He warned that any attempts by Japan to challenge this reality are 'absolutely unacceptable and unlawful.' Furthermore, he indicated that due to Japan's support for Western sanctions against Russia and its backing of Ukraine, 'Moscow reserves the right to take appropriate countermeasures.' This diplomatic spat highlights the ongoing tensions between the two nations over territorial claims and geopolitical alignments.567
“Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that Putin's visit was 'incompatible with the Japanese position on the Northern Territories.' Meanwhile, Russian official Galuzin warned that Moscow reserves the right to take countermeasures due to Japan's support for Western sanctions against Russia.”
