Kuril Islands Dispute Escalates After Putin’s Iturup Visit

Russia has summoned Japan‘s ambassador after Tokyo strongly condemned President Vladimir Putin‘s visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, escalating diplomatic tensions over a territorial dispute that has remained unresolved for decades.

Putin’s visit to Iturup, one of the four southernmost islands in the Kuril chain controlled by Russia but claimed by Japan, prompted an immediate protest from Tokyo. Japan refers to the islands as the Northern Territories and maintains that they are Japanese territory.

Moscow, meanwhile, has rejected Japan’s position and reiterated that its sovereignty over the southern Kuril Islands is not open to question. The latest diplomatic exchange shows how firmly both governments continue to hold their positions, despite years of efforts to resolve the dispute.

The confrontation is also taking place against the backdrop of Russia’s war in Ukraine, Japanese sanctions against Moscow and Tokyo’s support for Ukraine, all of which have further damaged relations between the two countries.

Why Putin’s Iturup visit triggered a Japanese protest

Putin visited Iturup last week, drawing a strong response from Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

Takaichi described the visit as incompatible with Japan’s position on the Northern Territories and called it absolutely unacceptable. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi also issued a strong protest, referring specifically to Etorofu, the Japanese name for Iturup.

Japan maintains that the Northern Territories, including Etorofu Island, constitute its inherent territory both historically and under international law.

The Russian-controlled island is therefore more than the site of a presidential visit. For Japan, a visit by the Russian president reinforces Moscow’s physical and political control over territory that Tokyo continues to claim. For Russia, presidential Travel to the islands reinforces its assertion that the territory forms part of Russia and that its sovereignty is settled.

Russia summons Japan’s ambassador

In response to the Japanese condemnation, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin met Japanese Ambassador Akira Muto on Tuesday and lodged a formal protest.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry said Galuzin objected to what Moscow described as “anti-Russia” statements by Takaichi and Motegi. The Russian side reiterated that its sovereignty and jurisdiction over the southern Kuril Islands were “absolutely unshakable”.

Moscow argued that the territories became part of Russia as a result of World War II and said this position was reflected in agreements involving the Allied Powers and the UN Charter.

Russia also warned that Japan’s position on the territorial dispute cannot be separated from its wider policy toward Moscow. The Russian Foreign Ministry pointed to Tokyo’s support for Western sanctions against Russia and its backing for Ukraine, saying Moscow reserves the right to take appropriate countermeasures.

The Kuril Islands dispute dates back to World War II

The roots of the dispute lie in the final stages of World War II, when the Soviet Union seized the islands from Japan.

Japan subsequently continued to claim the southernmost islands in the chain, referring to them as the Northern Territories. Russia has maintained control over the islands and regards its sovereignty as a consequence of the post-war settlement.

The dispute has prevented Russia and Japan from formally concluding a peace treaty that would bring an official end to the hostilities dating from World War II.

That unresolved status makes the territorial issue unusually durable. Even when relations between Moscow and Tokyo have improved, the islands have remained a major obstacle to a final peace agreement.

Four southern Kuril Islands remain at the centre of the dispute

The territorial disagreement concerns the four southernmost islands of the Kuril chain. Iturup, known as Etorofu in Japan, is one of them.

For Japan, the islands are part of the Northern Territories and remain subject to its territorial claim. For Russia, the islands are under Russian sovereignty and jurisdiction, a position Moscow has repeatedly described as settled and non-negotiable.

The competing names themselves reflect the dispute. Russia refers to Iturup, while Japan uses the name Etorofu. Similar differences surround the other islands claimed by Tokyo.

The issue is consequently not simply about administration of remote territory. It represents competing historical and legal interpretations that have persisted across generations.

Russia has strengthened its position in the Kurils

Over the years, Moscow has strengthened its military presence in the Kuril Islands, reinforcing its position in the disputed territory.

That military presence adds a practical dimension to the diplomatic disagreement. Russia’s continued control is backed not only by its political claims but also by its administration and Security presence across the island chain.

For Japan, this makes the territorial dispute more difficult to resolve. Any settlement would have to address the reality of Russian control as well as Tokyo’s longstanding claim.

The continued military presence also demonstrates why the dispute cannot be separated entirely from broader security issues in the Pacific.

Ukraine war has further damaged Russia-Japan relations

The Kuril dispute has become more difficult to address because relations between Russia and Japan have deteriorated significantly since Russia sent troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

Japan joined Western countries in imposing sanctions on Russia and has supported Ukraine. Moscow has viewed Japan’s policies as hostile and has increasingly treated Tokyo as part of the broader Western pressure campaign.

That political environment has reduced the space for the kind of diplomatic engagement that previously produced attempts at improving relations and addressing the territorial issue.

Russia’s latest warning that it reserves the right to take countermeasures shows that the Kuril dispute is now connected to a much wider disagreement over foreign policy and regional security.

Putin recalls earlier ties with Japan

Putin has acknowledged that Russia previously developed what he described as constructive relations with several Japanese leaders, including former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

Putin said Abe had worked to bring Japan and Russia closer and to align their positions. Their relationship had been associated with efforts to improve bilateral ties despite the unresolved territorial dispute.

According to Putin, Japan’s decision to impose sanctions on Russia following the Ukraine invasion changed that relationship. He also referred to Japan’s designation of Russia as a source of primary threats.

At the same time, Putin said Russia remains ready to cooperate with its neighbours, including Japan and other countries in the region.

That combination of criticism and openness is significant. Moscow is maintaining a hard position on sovereignty while leaving open the broader idea of regional cooperation.

Why the peace treaty remains unresolved

The absence of a formal peace treaty is one of the clearest signs of how deeply the territorial dispute has affected bilateral relations.

Russia and Japan have made repeated efforts over several decades to find a settlement, but none has produced a final agreement acceptable to both sides.

The basic obstacle remains unchanged: Japan continues to claim the four southern islands, while Russia insists that its sovereignty over them is firmly established.

As long as neither government is prepared to abandon its fundamental position, negotiations face a structural problem. Political changes in either country can alter the tone of the relationship, but they do not automatically resolve the underlying territorial disagreement.

The latest diplomatic exchange shows how little has changed

Putin’s visit to Iturup and Russia’s subsequent summons of the Japanese ambassador demonstrate that the territorial dispute remains highly sensitive.

Japan’s response shows that Tokyo continues to treat visits by senior Russian officials to the islands as a direct challenge to its territorial position. Russia’s response demonstrates that Moscow considers Japanese protests over the islands unacceptable interference with territory it regards as unquestionably Russian.

The two positions therefore remain fundamentally opposed.

Confirmed fact: Russia summoned Japan’s ambassador after Tokyo condemned Putin’s visit to Iturup and reiterated its sovereignty over the southern Kuril Islands.

Reasoned analysis: The diplomatic confrontation is unlikely to produce progress on the territorial dispute by itself because both governments continue to frame sovereignty as a settled principle rather than an issue open to compromise.

Possible future development: Further diplomatic or economic countermeasures could deepen the deterioration in relations, particularly while the wider dispute over Russia’s war in Ukraine remains unresolved.

What could happen next

The immediate focus will be on whether Moscow follows its warning about possible countermeasures against Japan.

Another important question is whether the latest dispute affects any remaining channels for dialogue between the two countries. Russia has indicated that it remains open to cooperation with Japan and other regional neighbours, but its firm position on the Kuril Islands leaves little apparent room for movement on the sovereignty question.

For Japan, maintaining its territorial claim remains a longstanding foreign-policy position. Any substantial change would carry major political significance and would require Tokyo to reconsider a position maintained for decades.

The broader security environment in the Pacific will also matter. Russia’s military presence in the Kurils, Japan’s alignment with Western countries and the continuing war in Ukraine all contribute to a relationship that is considerably more difficult than it was during earlier attempts at rapprochement.

A dispute that continues to outlive generations

The latest Russia-Japan diplomatic clash is another reminder that the Kuril Islands dispute remains one of the longest-running unresolved territorial issues in East Asia.

Putin’s visit to Iturup reinforced Russia’s physical control over an island Japan continues to claim. Tokyo’s condemnation reaffirmed its longstanding position, while Moscow’s decision to summon the Japanese ambassador showed that it will strongly resist any challenge to its sovereignty.

The dispute is especially consequential because it has never existed in isolation. It has affected the two countries’ ability to conclude a World War II peace treaty and has repeatedly shaped bilateral relations.

Today, the disagreement is compounded by the much wider deterioration in Russia-Japan ties following the Ukraine War. Sanctions, military concerns and competing regional interests have made a negotiated breakthrough even harder to envision.

For now, neither side appears ready to change its fundamental position. Russia insists that its sovereignty over the southern Kuril Islands is unshakable, while Japan continues to describe the Northern Territories as its inherent territory. Until that gap narrows, the territorial dispute will remain a major barrier to a full political settlement between Moscow and Tokyo.