Sanae Takaichi Rebukes Putin Over Kuril Island Visit, Heightening Tensions
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi criticized Vladimir Putin’s first visit to the Kuril Islands, warning the trip would worsen Moscow–Tokyo relations as the long-running dispute over Iturup (Etorofu) and the other islands persists; Japan protested to the Russian ambassador, while Putin’s itinerary underscored Russia’s stance on the sovereignty claim amid broader regional tensions.