Putin Visits Kuril Islands for First Time, Tokyo Protests

Vladimir Putin has visited the Kuril Islands for the first time, prompting a sharp protest from Tokyo. The Kremlin released photos from a fish processing plant. Japan stated it considers the territories to be originally Japanese. The dispute over the Kurils remains a key issue in relations, exacerbated by the invasion of Ukraine.

Vladimir Putin has visited the Kuril Islands for the first time, prompting a sharp protest from Tokyo and escalating the long-standing territorial dispute between Russia and Japan. The Kremlin press service released photographs showing Putin at a fish processing plant. The Japanese side immediately issued a strong protest, emphasizing that it considers these territories to be originally Japanese from the standpoint of history and international law. The dispute over the Kuril chain, which was transferred to the USSR after World War II, remains a key obstacle in bilateral dialogue. Against the backdrop of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, relations between the two countries have deteriorated, and the visit added to the tension. The article references the German publication Bild.

Putin Visits Kuril Islands for First Time, Tokyo Protests