Putin’s Visit to Iturup Reignites Territorial Dispute with Japan

The excursion to the territory, which Japan claims as part of its Northern Territories, coincided with the 81st anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender. While Moscow views the islands as an integral part of its sovereign domain, Tokyo maintains that their return is a non-negotiable prerequisite for any formal peace treaty. The visit was punctuated by broader regional tensions, occurring alongside Russian naval maneuvers and a North Korean missile launch.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova dismissed Tokyo’s objections as "outrageous," characterizing the Japanese government’s stance as a hostile, shortsighted attempt to dictate internal Russian affairs. She argued that Japan’s adherence to Western-led sanctions and its historical revisionism undermine regional security. Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi countered the move in a televised address, urging Moscow to recognize the gravity of the territorial claim. This latest friction underscores the deep freeze in bilateral relations that has persisted since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, leaving little room for diplomatic reconciliation over the archipelago.