--- title: "Putin's Visit to Iturup: Tokyo's Protest and a New Round of Territorial Dispute" description: "🇷🇺 Vladimir Putin visited the island of Iturup for the first time, triggering a sharp protest from Japan. 🇯🇵 The Tokyo Foreign Ministry called the islands an \"inalienable part\" of the country. The visit to the disputed Kurils occurred against the backdrop of frozen peace treaty negotiations. 📉" date: 2026-08-13T06:28:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/putin-visit-iturup-tokyo-protest-territorial-dispute tags: [russia, japan, putin, kuril-islands, territorial-dispute] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Putin's Visit to Iturup: Tokyo's Protest and a New Round of Territorial Dispute ![Vladimir Putin in formal attire against the Russian flag, linked to his visit to Iturup and territorial dispute with Japan](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/13/visit-putin-iturup-protest-tokyo/visit-putin-iturup-protest-tokyo-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Vladimir Putin visited the island of Iturup, part of the Kuril Islands archipelago, for the first time. - Japan expressed a firm protest, calling the islands its own territory. - The visit took place against the backdrop of the absence of a peace treaty between the Russian Federation and Japan since 1945. On August 13, 2026, it was announced that Russian leader Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the island of Iturup, part of the Kuril Islands archipelago. This move triggered an immediate and sharp reaction from the Japanese government, which considers this archipelago its "Northern Territories." The head of state's visit to the disputed land became an unprecedented event, reminding the world that the territorial issue between the two countries has remained unresolved for over seventy years. ### Course of the Visit: From Fish Processing to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk During his stay on Iturup, Vladimir Putin visited the "Yasny" fish processing plant. During the inspection, he was shown the enterprise's products, including the processing of tuna and halibut. The Kremlin's official press service published video footage of the trip, emphasizing the economic development of the region. After inspecting the industrial facility, the head of state moved to Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, where he met with local residents to discuss issues regarding the development of the Russian Far East. ### Sharp Reaction from Tokyo: "An Inalienable Part of Japan" The Japanese government reacted to the visit with a firm protest. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi stated that Iturup (Etorofu) is an inalienable part of Japanese territory, both from a historical perspective and based on international law. "Japan firmly protests against this visit," the diplomat emphasized. Tokyo insists that Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and the Habomai group of islands belong to Japan, and any actions by Russia aimed at strengthening its presence on these islands are viewed as a violation of sovereignty. ### Historical Context: Peace Treaty and Sanctions The territorial dispute over the Southern Kurils remains the main obstacle to concluding a peace treaty between Russia and Japan following World War II. Moscow insists that its sovereignty over the islands is enshrined in international documents and is not subject to revision. Negotiations on the peace treaty were suspended by Moscow in 2022 after Tokyo joined the sanctions against Russia. Previously, in 2023, Japan had already expressed a protest regarding Russia's plans to conduct missile exercises in the area of the southern part of the Kuril Islands. ### Contradictory Data There is a fundamental contradiction in the positions of the two countries. From Russia's perspective, Iturup is part of the Sakhalin Region of the Russian Federation, and the President's visit to this territory is an internal matter demonstrating care for the region's development. Japan, however, views these lands as occupied and considers Putin's visit an illegal incursion into its territory. The difference in the interpretation of international documents and historical facts makes dialogue impossible at the current stage. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs lodged a firm protest regarding Putin's trip to the Kurils](https://www.5-tv.ru/news/5082322/mid-aponii-zaavil-resitelnyj-protest-vsvazi-spoezdkoj-putina-nakurily/) - Источник подтверждает факт визита и реакцию МИД Японии. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why is Japan protesting against Putin's visit? **A:** Japan considers the islands of Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and Habomai its "Northern Territories" and views the visit of the Russian leader as a violation of its sovereignty. ### Q: Why has a peace treaty not been signed between Russia and Japan? **A:** The main obstacle is the territorial dispute. Negotiations were suspended in 2022 due to Japan's introduction of sanctions against Russia.