# Japan condemns Putin’s visit to disputed Kuril Islands 2026-08-13T20:07:53+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup, one of the four disputed Kuril Islands, on Thursday. Japan immediately called the visit "absolutely unacceptable" and summoned the Russian ambassador to lodge a strong protest. Tokyo claims the islands, which it calls the Northern Territories, as its inherent territory, citing history and international law. Moscow rejects the claim, saying the islands became part of Russia after World War II. The territorial dispute has prevented Japan and Russia from signing a formal peace treaty since 1945. The islands hold strategic military and economic value, with rich fishing grounds and mineral deposits. Bilateral ties have worsened since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, as Japan joined Western sanctions and provided support to Kyiv. Putin's visit, his first to the islands as president, included stops at a fish-processing plant, a hospital, and a school. ## Coverage - livemint.com - timesnownews.com Tags: Japan, Kuril Islands, Northern Territories, Putin, Russia, territorial dispute Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/japan-condemns-putins-kuril-islands-visit-as-unacceptable/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/japan-condemns-putins-kuril-islands-visit-as-unacceptable/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.