Putin visits disputed Kuril Islands, Russian state media TASS reports

Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited Iturup, one of the disputed Kuril Islands claimed by both Russia and Japan, Russian state news agency TASS reported on Thursday.

Putin’s visit to the island comes against the backdrop of a long-running territorial dispute between Moscow and Tokyo that has prevented the two countries from formally resolving the legacy of World War II.

The Kuril Islands stretch between Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula and Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido. Russia administers the chain, while Japan claims four southern islands — Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and the Habomai islets — which Tokyo refers to as the Northern Territories.

The territorial dispute has been a major obstacle to relations between Russia and Japan for decades. The two countries never signed a formal peace treaty following World War II, with the sovereignty of the islands remaining the central unresolved issue.

Putin’s visit to Iturup could therefore carry significant political and symbolic weight, particularly as the territorial question remains highly sensitive in Japan. Moscow has consistently maintained that its sovereignty over the islands is based on the outcome of World War II, while Tokyo continues to challenge Russia’s control over the four islands.

The dispute has repeatedly complicated efforts by Russia and Japan to improve bilateral ties and conclude a post-war peace agreement.