Putin's Far East provocation irritates Japan

On 13 August 2026, Putin made his first visit to the Kuril Islands, which Japan claims as its Northern Territories, and Japan protested. He visited Etorofu (Iturup) island off Hokkaido, one of the islands the Soviet Union seized in World War Two. Japan's foreign minister protested strongly, Japan summoned the Russian ambassador, and PM Takaichi called the visit 'absolutely unacceptable'.

The Russian foreign ministry said Tokyo's remarks were 'absolutely unacceptable'. Medvedev threatened Japan with 'monstrous consequences' over its claim to the islands. Takaichi said the visit does little to normalize relations between the two countries, and Russia-Japan ties were described as hitting a new low.