What happened: Vladimir Putin’s first Kuril Islands visit
On Iturup (Etorofu), Vladimir Putin visited a fish plant, a hospital, and a school, and spoke briefly with residents. Vladimir Putin also met regional officials from Russia’s Sakhalin region.
Japan’s response: formal protest against sovereignty framing
Japan formally protested Vladimir Putin’s Kuril Islands visit. Japan’s position is that the southern islands of the Kuril chain, including Etorofu (Iturup), are part of Japan’s “inherent territory” under Japan’s reading of history and international law.
Background: Soviet takeover after World War II and the peace-treaty gap
