Island Visit Sparks Fury
Putin's Visit to Disputed Iturup Island Sparks Strong Protest from Japan, Hitting Peace Treaty Hopes
Key Points
The Kuril Islands at the heart of the dispute comprise Iturup (Etorofu), Kunashir, Shikotan, and the Habomai islets, with Putin reportedly visiting Iturup on this trip—the first time a Russian leader has visited the chain according to several reports.
Japan’s Foreign Minister Motegi stated explicitly that 'The Northern Four Islands, including Etorofu Island, are an inherent part of Japan's territory -- both historically and under international law,' reinforcing Tokyo’s legal stance amid the visit.
Putin’s on-island activities included touring a fish-packing plant and a secondary school and engaging with local residents, actions aligned with Russia demonstrating governance and presence on the territory; he had also attended the final stage of Pacific Fleet drills off Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk beforehand.
In a broader diplomatic signal, Russia and China’s ambassadors to Japan issued a joint statement pledging to oppose any revision of the World War II settlement and warning against re-militarisation in the Asia-Pacific, highlighting outside backing for Moscow’s position.
Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first-ever visit to the disputed Kuril Islands on Thursday, landing on Iturup — a Pacific island chain that Japan has claimed as its own for 81 years. NBC News reported that Putin toured a fish-processing plant and a local school, while Tokyo fired back with a formal protest, calling the trip "absolutely unacceptable."
The visit — the first by a sitting Russian leader to the chain during Putin's 26 years in power — comes just two days before Japan marks the 81st anniversary of its World War II surrender. It effectively buries any near-term hope for a peace treaty that Tokyo and Moscow have never signed.
Putin Lands on Iturup After Pacific Fleet War Games
Putin's Thursday visit followed a Wednesday stop aboard the guided-missile cruiser Varyag off Sakhalin Island, where he oversaw the final stage of Russian Pacific Fleet drills. From there, he flew to Iturup. On the island, he sampled fish roe at the Yasny processing plant, visited a district hospital, and met students at the Hero of Russia Eduard Norpolov Secondary School — a school named after a fallen Russian special forces officer.
Touring the island with Sakhalin Governor Valery Limarenko, Putin told local residents: "What lovely weather you have there, just like a resort!" When the governor noted that islanders back Russia's war in Ukraine, Putin replied: "These are our people. The genetic code of the conqueror." The Wall Street Journal noted the visit is part of Moscow's broader push to project sovereignty over its Far East.
Tokyo Summons Russian Ambassador, Demands Withdrawal of Visit
Japan's response was swift and sharp. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi held a televised press conference declaring the visit "incompatible with Japan's consistent position." Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi went further, summoning Russian Ambassador Nikolai Nozdrev to the Foreign Ministry to lodge what he called a "strong protest."
Motegi stated plainly: "The Northern Territories, including Etorofu Island, are Japan's inherent territory both historically and from the perspective of international law." He also warned that the trip "made it more difficult to restore relations over the medium- to long-term." The four disputed islands — Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and the Habomai islets — have blocked a formal post-WWII peace treaty since the Soviet Union seized them in August 1945.
Russia and China Issue Joint Statement Against Japan's Defense Buildup
As Tokyo protested, Russia and China moved in lockstep. Russian Ambassador Nozdrev and Chinese Ambassador Wu Jianghao issued a joint statement from Tokyo on the same day. It warned against "attempts to revise the results of World War Two" and condemned "re-militarisation in the Asia-Pacific." The move signals Beijing's open backing for Moscow's position on the islands.
The Wall Street Journal noted that the coordinated Sino-Russian diplomatic push comes as Japan expands its own military posture. Tokyo recently opened a formal mission to NATO and hosted the US Typhon mid-range missile system during joint exercises. Russia's Pacific Fleet and Chinese forces are expected to increase joint naval drills in the Sea of Japan in response.
Peace Treaty Prospects Dim as Dispute Enters 81st Year
The Kuril dispute has already outlasted decades of diplomacy. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe spent years trying to negotiate a joint economic deal with Putin as a path to a treaty. Those efforts collapsed after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, when Japan joined G7 sanctions against Moscow. Russia then halted peace talks entirely and labeled Japan an "unfriendly country."
Putin said Wednesday that Russia "remains ready" to seek a peace treaty, even while insisting the islands' status is "enshrined in international documents" as a result of WWII. Tokyo rejects that framing outright. With Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party holding a two-thirds parliamentary supermajority after February 2026 snap elections, Prime Minister Takaichi has a firm mandate to hold the hard line — making a breakthrough in talks deeply unlikely.
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