Japan Considers New Sanctions After Putin Visits Disputed Kuril Island

Tokyo has strongly protested Vladimir Putin’s unauthorized visit to the disputed island of Iturup, prompting high-ranking Japanese officials to weigh further economic sanctions against Moscow.

Kremlin Details Putin’s Iturup Itinerary

In a Thursday statement, the Kremlin announced that Vladimir Putin traveled to Iturup Island, where the Russian leader visited the Jasny fish processing complex and the Kuril Central District Hospital.

The Russian presidential office reported that the next stop was the Hero of Russia Eduard Norpolov Secondary School, where the president inspected the gymnasium, classrooms, and school museum, and spoke with students. At the conclusion of his working trip, Putin met with Sakhalin Oblast Governor Valery Limarenko.

Limarenko later wrote on Telegram that they showed the head of state how the region is developing and discussed future plans, noting that cities in Sakhalin and the Kuril Islands have been transformed with new roads, social facilities, and industries in recent years.

Japan Reacts with Fury and Summons Russian Ambassador

Vladimir Putin’s presence on Iturup triggered an immediate reaction from the Japanese government. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi stated that the Northern Territories are an integral part of Japan both historically and under international law, and that Putin’s behavior harms the sentiments of the Japanese people.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi urgently summoned Russian Ambassador to Tokyo Nikolai Nozdrev to officially lodge a firm protest. The minister emphasized the very negative impact of this visit on bilateral relations between the two countries.

Tokyo Weighs Tightening Sanctions on Moscow

A high-ranking official of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated on Friday that they are considering what steps to take in the future, thereby suggesting the tightening of sanctions already imposed on Moscow by the international community due to the war in Ukraine.

The disputed islands, called the Northern Territories by Tokyo and the Southern Kurils by Moscow, include Etorofu, Kunashir, Shikotan, and the Habomai archipelago. Japan maintains that this territory was illegally seized by the Soviet Union following the Japanese surrender in World War II, while Russia claims that taking control of the islands was fully justified. Modern relations between the two countries also remain tense due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine.