Moscow summons Japanese Ambassador Muto to Foreign Ministry following Putin's Iturup visit

Japan's Ambassador to Moscow, Akira Muto, was summoned to the Russian Foreign Ministry following the reaction from the Tokyo administration to Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to Iturup Island in the Kuril Islands chain.

According to a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry, Deputy Minister Mikhail Galuzin delivered a "strong protest" to Muto regarding statements made by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. Moscow characterized these statements as "anti-Russian."

The Russian side maintained that its sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Kuril Islands are immutable. The ministry's statement asserted that the islands became part of Russia following World War II within the framework of relevant agreements and the UN Charter.

Japan's attempts to directly or indirectly question this indisputable fact are absolutely unacceptable and contrary to law.

The statement further noted that Moscow "reserves the right to take appropriate countermeasures" due to Japan's continued adherence to the West's sanctions policy against Russia and its support for Ukraine. Russian media reported that Ambassador Muto spent approximately 25 minutes at the ministry and did not make a statement upon leaving.

BACKGROUND OF THE KURIL DISPUTE

Last week, Putin visited Iturup, in the Kuril Islands chain claimed by Japan, for the first time. Following the visit, Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi announced that the Tokyo administration "strongly protested" this move. Prime Minister Takaichi also described Putin's actions as "absolutely unacceptable."

The Japanese Foreign Ministry had also summoned Russia's Ambassador to Tokyo to express its reaction to the visit. Thus, the long-unresolved island dispute between the two countries has once again been moved to the top of the diplomatic agenda.

The Kuril Islands are located between Hokkaido in northern Japan and Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula and consist of 56 islands. Japan views the return of the four islands it calls the "Northern Territories" as one of the fundamental conditions for a peace treaty that could not be signed after World War II.

Russia, however, considers its sovereignty over the islands to be beyond discussion. While Moscow has been strengthening its military presence in the region in recent years, Iturup Island is also used as one of its primary military airbases. Last month, it was reported that Chinese and Russian warships passed through a strait in the Kuril Islands during a joint patrol.