Russia has strongly protested to Japan’s ambassador in Moscow over what it described as “anti-Russian” remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to a disputed Kuril Island.
Putin visited the territory last Thursday, prompting Japan to summon Russia’s ambassador and condemn the trip. Takaichi described the visit as “grave” and “absolutely unacceptable,” reiterating Japan’s claim that the Northern Territories are inherently Japanese territory under history and international law.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Japanese Ambassador to Moscow Akira Muto on Tuesday. The diplomat left the ministry after about 25 minutes without speaking to reporters.
The dispute over the southern Kuril Islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories, has remained a major obstacle to relations between the two countries. The Soviet Union seized the islands in 1945 and expelled their Japanese residents, preventing Moscow and Tokyo from concluding a post-World War II peace treaty.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday accused Takaichi of crossing “the line of decency” and criticised what he called Tokyo’s increasingly “militaristic line.”
Relations between Russia and Japan have deteriorated sharply since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Japan has joined other G7 countries in imposing sanctions on Russia and has provided financial and non lethal defence assistance to Ukraine.
Japan has also supported Ukraine indirectly by exporting domestically produced Patriot interceptor missiles to the United States, helping replenish American stocks depleted by military aid to Kyiv.
Analysts say Putin’s visit to the Kuril Islands could serve as a warning to Tokyo against expanding its military support for Ukraine or deepening cooperation with NATO.
Japan has in recent years eased restrictions on weapons exports but remains unable to directly provide lethal military equipment to countries involved in active conflicts, including Ukraine.
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