Putin's August 2026 Kuril visit and Japan-Russia protests

Russia protests Japan PM’s comments after Putin’s Kuril visit Russia summons Japan’s ambassador to Moscow over Prime Minister Sanae ⁠Takaichi’s ‘anti-Russian’ remarks. Russia has strongly protested to Japan’s ambassador ‌to Moscow the “anti-Russian” comments made by ⁠Prime Minister Sanae ⁠Takaichi after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited one of the disputed Kuril Islands for the first time last week. Putin’s controversial visit to the territories last Thursday prompted Japan to summon Russia’s ambassador in protest. Japan’s prime minister called Putin’s visit to the disputed islands “grave” and “absolutely unacceptable”. “The Northern Territories are inherently part of Japan’s territory, both historically and under international law,” she said. “This visit has further hardened anti-Russian sentiment within Japan and has made the restoration of relations over the medium- to long-...