Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi issued a sharp rebuke on Thursday following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Etorofu, one of four northwestern Pacific islands claimed by Tokyo but controlled by Moscow.
Addressing reporters at her official residence, Takaichi firmly rejected the trip to the island—part of the contested area known in Japan as the Northern Territories—stating it directly contradicts Tokyo’s long-held stance.
The Prime Minister confirmed that Tokyo has formally lodged a stern protest against Moscow over the visit.
”The Northern Territories are an inherent part of our country’s territory both historically and under international law.”
Following the announcement, Takaichi convened top officials, including National Security Secretariat Secretary-General Keiichi Ichikawa and Vice Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi, to weigh appropriate diplomatic countermeasures.
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi subsequently summoned Russian Ambassador to Japan Nikolay Nozdrev to the Foreign Ministry to officially present Japan’s grievance.
According to a government insider, the Russian leader’s presence on Etorofu came as an unannounced development on Thursday afternoon, though Russian state media outlet Tass confirmed the presidential trip. Takaichi warned that the maneuver significantly harms bilateral prospects.
”This visit has further hardened Japanese public sentiment against Russia and made it difficult to improve bilateral relations in the medium to long term,” she said. “We want the Russian side to take the gravity of this matter seriously.”
The disputed islands were seized by the former Soviet Union at the close of World War II. The lingering territorial controversy has prevented Japan and Russia from formalizing a peace treaty to conclude their wartime hostilities.
The Takaichi administration maintains sanctions against Russia over its ongoing war in Ukraine alongside G7 partners, while actively monitoring joint military exercises between China and Russia near Japanese territory.
Nonetheless, Japan has engaged in select diplomatic outreach with Moscow to address energy security and regional stability—including May visits to Russia by economy officials and recent talks between Motegi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the Philippines.