{"id":2644421,"date":"2026-08-13T13:33:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-13T17:33:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/putin-visit-to-disputed-islands-has-negative-impact-on-japan-relations\/"},"modified":"2026-08-13T13:35:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-13T17:35:22","slug":"putin-visit-to-disputed-islands-has-negative-impact-on-japan-relations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/putin-visit-to-disputed-islands-has-negative-impact-on-japan-relations\/","title":{"rendered":"Putin visit to disputed islands has &#8216;negative impact&#8217; on Japan relations"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fputin-visit-to-disputed-islands-has-negative-impact-on-japan-relations%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2644421&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The Japanese government has expressed outrage following Russian President Vladimir Putin&#8217;s visit to a disputed island north of Hokkaido, known as Iturup in Russia and Etorofu in Japan. Japan considers the island part of its territory illegally occupied by Russia as the Soviet Union&#8217;s seizure at the end of World War II. Putin&#8217;s tour of the island, part of the Kuril Islands archipelago, was a controversial move, with him asserting Russia&#8217;s sovereignty based on international documents. Japan\u2019s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the visit, emphasizing that the Northern Territories are historically and legally part of Japan and that the visit harms diplomatic relations. Japan maintains its stance of negotiating to resolve the sovereignty issue and has lodged a protest with Russia. The visit occurred amidst deteriorating Japan-Russia relations, further strained by Russia\u2019s invasion of Ukraine. Russia highlighted the visit with footage of Putin engaging with local residents,marking his first official visit to the island since 2000. The dispute over these islands remains a sensitive and unresolved issue, with Japan insisting on its claims and Russia asserting control based on past and legal grounds.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/japan\/\">Japanese<\/a> government is outraged after Russian President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/vladimir-putin\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"79\">Vladimir Putin<\/a> visited a tiny island north of Hokkaido, a territory that Tokyo has insisted was illegitimately stolen from the country in the final days of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/world-war-ii\/\">World War II<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">Map: Datawrapper, Graphic: Grace Hagerman\/Washington Examiner<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/08\/localimages\/Location-of-IturupEtorofu-1.png?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Map of territory disputed by Japan and Russia (Map: Datawrapper, Graphic: Grace Hagerman\/Washington Examiner)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Putin toured the island, known in Russia as Iturup and in Japan as Etorofu, on Thursday. It is part of an archipelago with three other islands known in Japanese as the \u201cNorthern Territories\u201d and in Russian as the \u201cKuril Islands.\u201d It was a politically charged visit, as Putin asserted just the day before that Russian ownership of the region is \u201creality\u201d that is \u201censhrined in international documents.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4686114\/putin-visit-disputed-russian-japanese-islands-negative-impact-difficult-relationship\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Japanese leaders say Putin visit to disputed islands has \u2018extremely negative impact\u2019 on relations<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4685922\/mike-huckabee-denounce-israel-settler\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Mike Huckabee decries Israeli settler \u2018terrorists\u2019 over siege of West Bank home<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4684943\/count-binface-elmo-british-tradition-novelty-candidates\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>From Count Binface to Elmo: The British tradition of novelty candidates<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Northern Territories are historically and legally an inherent part of our country\u2019s territory. This visit to Etorofu by the sitting president of Russia is incompatible with Japan\u2019s consistent position on the Northern Territories,\u201d Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.japantimes.co.jp\/news\/2026\/08\/13\/japan\/society\/russia-putin-japan-disputed-isle-visit\/\">told reporters<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cJapan-Russia relations are currently in a very difficult situation. However, Japan\u2019s policy of resolving the issue of the sovereignty of the Northern Territories and concluding a peace treaty remains unchanged,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Japan claimed ownership over the islands in the 19th century and maintained control in the region until the end of World War II, when the Soviet Union violated the Neutrality Agreement and declared war on the Japanese Empire in 1945.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Approximately 17,500 Japanese nationals were living on the islands when Soviet forces captured the region. Those inhabitants were forced out. Of them, about 5,000 Japanese are still alive, though they are rapidly dying off from old age. Now, the islands are home to 20,000 Russian citizens.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Japanese government maintains that \u201cthe Northern Territories have been under illegal occupation by the Soviet Union, and then Russia\u201d since 1945.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe Government of Japan has energetically been continuing negotiations with Russia based on its basic policy of resolving the issue of the attribution of the Four Northern Islands and concluding a peace treaty with Russia,\u201d the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mofa.go.jp\/region\/europe\/russia\/territory\/index.html\">says of the issue<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi summoned Russian Ambassador to Japan Nikolay Nozdrev on Thursday and \u201clodged a strong protest against this visit,\u201d calling the situation \u201cextremely regrettable.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAlthough Japan has continued to convey its position on the Northern Territories to the Russian side at every opportunity, the fact that this visit was carried out unilaterally not only has an extremely negative impact on Japan-Russia relations, which are already in a difficult situation due to Russia\u2019s aggression against Ukraine, but also offends the sentiments of the Japanese people and is utterly unacceptable,\u201d Motegi <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/MofaJapan_en\/status\/2087877605752287367\">said in a statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, interacts with local residents in Kurilsk on the Iturup Island, the largest of the Kuril Islands of Russia\u2019s far-east, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/08\/localimages\/AP26225276188231.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, interacts with residents in Kurilsk on the Iturup Island, the largest of the Kuril Islands of Russia\u2019s far east, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026. (Gavriil Grigorov\/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It was Putin\u2019s first official visit to the island since becoming president in 2000. Russian state media highlighted the visit with video of the president visiting a fish-processing facility and eating locally sourced caviar.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Japan-Russia relations have been deteriorating for years, exacerbated by the invasion of <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ukraine\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"82\">Ukraine<\/a> in 2022. Tokyo aligned with other Group of Seven nations by sanctioning Moscow and providing aid to Ukraine.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4682638\/australian-prime-minister-refuses-apology-melon-gag-japan-leader\/\">AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER REFUSES APOLOGY FOR \u2018CLASSLESS\u2019 MELON GAG TO JAPAN LEADER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cJapan has identified Russia as a main source of threats. I would like to point out that we are not threatening Japan,\u201d Putin said. \u201cOn the contrary, it has territorial claims against our country.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Putin held a meeting on \u201censuring the security of Russia\u2019s eastern borders\u201d on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Japan condemns Putin&#8217;s visit to disputed Kuril Island, claiming illegitimate occupation<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2644422,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-collage-6dtx02nz5-1786639868947-e1786640076405.jpg?1786626044&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[84097,32404,53418,84096,3733],"class_list":["post-2644421","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-disputed-islands","tag-geopolitics","tag-international-diplomacy","tag-japan-relations","tag-putin"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/image-collage-6dtx02nz5-1786639868947-e1786640076405.jpg?1786626044&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2644421","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2644421"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2644421\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2644424,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2644421\/revisions\/2644424"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2644422"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2644421"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2644421"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2644421"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}