--- title: "Putin's Visit to Iturup: US Confirms Japan's Sovereignty over the Kurils" description: "πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ The US confirmed Japan's sovereignty over the Kurils after Putin's visit to Iturup. πŸ‡―πŸ‡΅ Tokyo called the visit \"unacceptable\" and is preparing new sanctions. πŸ‡·πŸ‡Ί The Kremlin is trying to legitimize control over the islands. πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦ Ukraine stands in solidarity with Japan. #Putin #Kurils #Japan #USA #Geopolitics" date: 2026-08-14T13:08:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/after-putins-visit-to-iturup-us-confirms-japans-sovereignty-over-the-kurils tags: [putin, kuril-islands, japan, usa, geopolitics, sanctions, russia-japan-relations] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Putin's Visit to Iturup: US Confirms Japan's Sovereignty over the Kurils ![Vladimir Putin during his visit to Iturup interacts with local residents in front of an airport building](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/14/sposle-vizita-putina-na-iturup-ssha-podtverdili-suverenitet-yaponii-nad-kurilami/sposle-vizita-putina-na-iturup-ssha-podtverdili-suverenitet-yaponii-nad-kurilami-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - The US officially recognized Japan's sovereignty over the Kuril Islands after Putin's visit to Iturup. - Japan called Putin's visit "absolutely unacceptable" and is preparing new sanctions against Russia. - Analysts consider the visit part of the Kremlin's reaction to the 2026 "White Book of Defense of Japan." - Ukraine stands in solidarity with Japan and condemned Russia's actions as an attempt to legitimize occupation. August 13, 2026, became a historic day for the geopolitical situation in the Indo-Pacific region: Vladimir Putin visited the island of Iturup for the first time in his political career. This visit, which the Kremlin positioned as a demonstration of de facto control over the territory, provoked an immediate and stern reaction from Japan's international partners. In particular, the US officially confirmed its sovereignty over the Northern Territories, calling them an integral part of Japan. ### Official Washington Position: "Unwavering Support" The statement came from the US Ambassador to Japan, George Glass, who, in an interview with the media, emphasized the strategic importance of the alliance with Tokyo. According to the diplomat, Japan remains a "key ally" of Washington and can count on full support regarding territorial integrity. Glass stated directly that the US resolutely opposes any actions capable of undermining peace and stability in the region, which served as a direct response to the visit of the Russian leader. Thus, Washington took a clear position, recognizing Japanese sovereignty over the islands, which in Tokyo are called the Northern Territories. This statement became an important signal for Tokyo, which in recent months has been actively strengthening its defense capabilities in response to Russia's growing activity in the Arctic and the Far East. ### Tokyo's Reaction: From Protest to New Sanctions On the same day Putin stepped onto the land of Iturup, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called this visit "absolutely unacceptable." In her statement, she emphasized that the disputed islands are an integral part of Japanese territory from a historical and legal point of view. Furthermore, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian Ambassador, Nikolai Nozdrev, to deliver an official protest. According to sources, on August 14, Tokyo began preparing a tougher response to Moscow's actions. Among the possible steps are further tightening of economic sanctions against Russian companies operating in the energy and fishing sectors. Japan is also considering increasing its military presence on its islands, including the deployment of additional Self-Defense Forces units. ### Putin's Visit: Political Gesture or Strategic Move? Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believe that Putin's trip to Iturup was part of the Kremlin's reaction to the "White Book of Defense of Japan," published in early August 2026. The document, prepared under the government of Sanae Takaichi, reflects a course on significantly strengthening the country's defense capabilities, including the modernization of the armed forces and the expansion of military cooperation with the US and other partners in the Indo-Pacific region. During the visit, Putin visited the "Yasny" fish processing plant and communicated with local residents, which was interpreted as an attempt to legitimize the Russian presence on the islands. However, as experts noted, such a gesture does not change the legal status of the territories and only increases tension in relations between Moscow and Tokyo. ### Contradictory Data While the US and Japan are united in their position, there are differences in the interpretation of the consequences of Putin's visit. On the one hand, American diplomats emphasize that the visit does not change the de facto control over the islands, which remains with Russia. On the other hand, Japanese officials insist that any visit by a Russian leader to disputed territories is a violation of international law and Japanese sovereignty. These differences in approaches could lead to further complications in diplomatic negotiations between the parties. ### Ukraine's Position: Solidarity with Tokyo The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine also condemned Putin's visit, stating that the Kremlin is trying to intimidate Japan and legitimize the occupation of foreign territories. The department noted Kyiv's full solidarity with Tokyo, emphasizing that Russia's actions in the Kurils are a continuation of an aggressive policy aimed at redrawing borders in the region. Ukraine called on the international community to take joint action against Russia's attempts to impose its interests by force. ## πŸ” Fact-Check Verification - [US declares solidarity with Japan over Kurils after Putin's visit to Iturup](https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/8889879) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ заявлСниС посла БША Π”ΠΆΠΎΡ€Π΄ΠΆΠ° Гласса ΠΎ ΠΏΠΎΠ΄Π΄Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠΊΠ΅ сувСрСнитСта Π―ΠΏΠΎΠ½ΠΈΠΈ. - [US supports Japan's claims to the Kurils after Putin's visit](https://www.rbc.ru/politics/14/08/2026/6a7ecc2d9a79476a73a8bb80) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ Ρ€Π΅Π°ΠΊΡ†ΠΈΡŽ Π―ΠΏΠΎΠ½ΠΈΠΈ ΠΈ ΠΏΠΎΠ΄Π³ΠΎΡ‚ΠΎΠ²ΠΊΡƒ Π½ΠΎΠ²Ρ‹Ρ… санкций. - [Japan calls Putin's visit to the Kuril Islands "absolutely unacceptable"](https://www.rfi.fr/ru/%D0%B2-%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%B5/20260813-%D1%8F%D0%BF%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%8F-%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B0-%D0%B0%D0%B1%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%8E%D1%82%D0%BD%D0%BE-%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%BB%D0%B5%D0%BC%D1%8B%D0%BC-%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%B8%D1%82-%D0%BF%D1%83%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%BD-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%BA%D1%83%D1%80%D0%B8%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ Ρ€Π΅Π°ΠΊΡ†ΠΈΡŽ ΠΏΡ€Π΅ΠΌΡŒΠ΅Ρ€-министра Π’Π°ΠΊΠ°ΠΈΡ‡ΠΈ ΠΈ Π²Ρ‹Π·ΠΎΠ² посла Π Π€. - [What it means for Vladimir Putin's first trip to the Kuril Islands](https://www.vedomosti.ru/politics/articles/2026/08/14/1221059-chto-znachit-pervaya-poezdka-putina-na-kurilskie-ostrova) - Анализ Π²ΠΈΠ·ΠΈΡ‚Π° Π² контСкстС Β«Π‘Π΅Π»ΠΎΠΉ ΠΊΠ½ΠΈΠ³ΠΈ ΠΎΠ±ΠΎΡ€ΠΎΠ½Ρ‹ Π―ΠΏΠΎΠ½ΠΈΠΈΒ» 2026 Π³ΠΎΠ΄Π°. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why did the US confirm Japan's sovereignty over the Kurils? **A:** The US confirmed Japan's sovereignty over the Kuril Islands in response to Putin's visit to Iturup to support its key ally in the region and prevent destabilization. ### Q: How did Japan react to Putin's visit? **A:** Japan called the visit "absolutely unacceptable," summoned the Russian ambassador to deliver a protest, and is preparing new sanctions against Moscow. ### Q: What is the 2026 "White Book of Defense of Japan"? **A:** It is a document reflecting the Japanese government's course on strengthening the country's defense capabilities, including modernizing the armed forces and expanding military cooperation with partners. ### Q: What is Ukraine's position on the issue of the Kuril Islands? **A:** Ukraine stands in solidarity with Japan and condemned Putin's visit as an attempt to legitimize the occupation of foreign territories.