Russian President Putin visits Japan’s northern territories for 1st time – Asia News Network
August 14, 2026
TOKYO – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday visited Etorofu, one of the islands off Hokkaido that make up the northern territories, according to a report by Russia’s Tass news agency.
This is the first time for Putin to visit any of the islands, which are occupied by Russia. His visit, which appears to be aimed at showing he will make no concessions to Japan in territorial issues, is certain to degrade relations between Japan and Russia even further.
Russia’s state TV on Thursday showed Putin observing a production line and tasting salmon roe at a seafood processing factory on Etorofu.
The islands — Etorofu Island, Kunashiri Island, Shikotan Island and the Habomai group of islets — have been controlled by Russia (and previously by the Soviet Union) since the end of World War II. Japan has asked that Russia return the islands. In their combined surface area, the islands total 5,000 square kilometers, almost as large as Fukuoka Prefecture. Etorofu has about 3,160 square kilometers of land. On Aug. 15, 1945, there were about 17,300 Japanese people living on the island.
MAP: THE YOMIURI SHIMBUN
In 2010, then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev visited Kunashiri Island, but Putin, who has been Russia’s de facto leader since 2000, has never been to any of the islands before. When Putin traveled to Khabarovsk in Russia’s Far East in January 2024, he made reference to the islands, which are called the Kurils in Russia. “Unfortunately, I have never been, but I will definitely go,” he said.
On Wednesday, Putin visited Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in Russia’s far eastern region of Sakhalin and observed the Russian Navy’s Pacific Fleet in the final stage of a military drill, which started on Aug. 4 in the Sea of Japan and elsewhere.
At a meeting with senior navy officials on Wednesday, Putin reiterated that the islands became Russian territory as a consequence of World War II. He also insisted that Japan was to blame for the lack of progress on the two countries’ talks on a peace treaty, which are also aimed at tackling the northern territory issue.
After Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Japan imposed economic sanctions on Russia. Putin’s visit to the island shortly before Saturday, the day for commemorating Japan’s surrender in World War II, was likely intended to provoke Japan as it continues its sanctions.
Government Strongly Protests Putin’s Visit to Etorofu Island
The Japanese government plans to lodge a strong protest against Putin’s visit to Etorofu Island. The government will closely scrutinize Putin’s intentions in visiting the island as it considers its next steps.
On Thursday, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi wrote on X, “As the four northern islands are an inherent part of Japan’s territory, both historically and under international law, we strongly protest this visit.”
The Japanese government is expected to convey its dissatisfaction directly to the Russian government soon.
A senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official said Thursday, “We need to thoroughly analyze the intent behind making this visit at this particular time.”
When she met with descendants of former residents of the northern territories in July, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi expressed eagerness to resume a program which allowed such people to visit their ancestors’ graves in the territories, saying, “[Japan’s] intention to resolve the issue of the sovereignty of the four northern islands and conclude a peace treaty remains unchanged.”