Moscow Lodges Strong Protest Against Tokyo Over Prime Minister's Remarks on Kuril Islands Visit

Russia has issued a strong diplomatic protest to Japan’s ambassador to Moscow regarding the critical remarks made by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi following Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent trip to one of the disputed Kuril Islands.

President Vladimir Putin visited the territory on Thursday, August 13, 2026, prompting an immediate rebuke from Tokyo, which summoned Russia's ambassador in response. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the visit as "grave" and "absolutely unacceptable," asserting that the Northern Territories are historically and legally part of Japan.

During a meeting at Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, Japan’s ambassador departed after 25 minutes without issuing a public statement. The long-standing territorial dispute over the Kuril Islands—known in Japan as the Northern Territories—has prevented the two nations from signing a post-World War II peace treaty ever since the Soviet Union seized the islands in 1945.

Relations between Moscow and Tokyo have experienced a severe downturn since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Japan has aligned with G7 nations to impose sanctions on Russia while providing financial and non-lethal defense aid to Ukraine. Analysts suggest that President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the Kuril Islands serves as a warning against deeper Japanese military support for Kyiv.