Russia summons Japanese ambassador over Kuril Islands dispute

Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to the disputed Kuril Islands has sparked a sharp diplomatic exchange between Moscow and Tokyo, culminating in Japan's ambassador being summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, August 18, 2026. The summons came after Japan issued a formal protest over the trip, which Russia described as a legitimate tour of its sovereign territory.

The diplomatic flurry began after Putin traveled to Iturup, known as Etorofu in Japan, on August 13. During the visit, he toured local facilities including a fish plant, a hospital, and a school. It marked the first time a Russian president has visited the archipelago since Dmitry Medvedev went to Kunashiri Island in 2010. The four southernmost islands of the Kuril chain, located north of Japan's Hokkaido prefecture, have been under Russian administration since they were seized by the Soviet Union in the final days of World War II. Japan maintains the islands were illegally occupied and refers to them as its Northern Territories.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the visit as "absolutely unacceptable," stating it hurt the feelings of the Japanese people and complicated future...