Putin makes historic visit to disputed Kuril island of Iturup

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived on the island of Iturup on Thursday as part of his broader tour of the Far Eastern Sakhalin region. The visit represents a significant symbolic gesture, as Iturup is one of four southernmost islands in the Kuril chain that remain at the center of a protracted territorial dispute between Moscow and Tokyo, a disagreement that has prevented the two nations from signing a formal peace treaty since the conclusion of World War II.

Infrastructure inspection and regional focus

Accompanied by Sakhalin Governor Valery Limarenko, Putin toured a fish processing complex and a local hospital on the island, later visiting a school and holding a working meeting with the governor, according to the Kremlin press service. Russian state media characterized the trip as Putin's first personal visit to the Kuril archipelago, underscoring its political significance. The presidential itinerary follows a stop on Sakhalin island the previous day, where Putin addressed servicemen of Russia's Pacific Fleet aboard the cruiser Varyag, the fleet's flagship vessel, which was conducting drills in the region.

Diplomatic tensions and Japanese protest

Japan's Foreign Ministry promptly issued a formal protest over the visit, with officials reiterating that the four islands—Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan, and the Habomai islets—are "an inherent part of Japan's territory both historically and under international law." Relations between the two countries have deteriorated significantly in recent years, particularly following Japan's imposition of sanctions on Russia in connection with the conflict in Ukraine. Putin addressed the strained ties on Wednesday, noting that while constructive dialogue had existed during former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's tenure, he observed "unfortunately, changes in positions which, I emphasize, were not provoked in any way on our part."