Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Russia protests to Japan's envoy over Takaichi's anti-Russian remarks
Two countries, Russia and Japan, are having a big argument about four islands near Japan.
Russia controls the islands today, but Japan says they actually belong to Japan.
Russia calls them the Southern Kurils, while Japan calls them the Northern Territories.
The argument started about 80 years ago, after World War Two, when the Soviet Union took the islands.
Recently, Russia's leader, Vladimir Putin, visited one of the islands.
Japan's leader, Sanae Takaichi, said the visit hurt Japanese people's feelings and was unacceptable.
Russia was upset by her words and complained officially to Japan's ambassador.
Russia warned that its ownership of the islands is not open to question.
The two countries also disagree because Japan sided with Ukraine in Russia's war.
Because of this long argument, Russia and Japan have never signed a formal peace treaty.
Russia summoned Japanese Ambassador Akira Muto to the Foreign Ministry to protest 'anti-Russian' remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
Takaichi said Vladimir Putin's visit to one of the disputed islands 'hurts the feelings of the Japanese people and is absolutely unacceptable.'
Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin also objected to statements by Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.
Moscow declared its sovereignty over the Southern Kuril Islands 'indisputable' and warned Japan it may take 'appropriate countermeasures.'
The eight-decade-old island dispute has blocked a formal Russia-Japan peace treaty, and ties soured after Japan sanctioned Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
- Who
- Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin protested to Japanese Ambassador Akira Muto over remarks by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.
- What
- A diplomatic protest over 'anti-Russian' remarks in a row about islands Russia controls, which it calls the Southern Kurils and Japan calls the Northern Territories.
- When
- Tuesday, Aug. 18, per the article's dateline.
- Where
- Moscow, Russia.
- Why
- Takaichi condemned Putin's visit to a disputed island as 'absolutely unacceptable,' and Japan backed sanctions against Russia over the war in Ukraine.
Japan's Stance
Russia's Stance
Ownership of the islands
Japan's Stance
Japan claims the islands, which it calls the Northern Territories, and continues to assert its claim to them.
Russia's Stance
Russia says its sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Southern Kuril Islands are indisputable and that the islands legally belong to Russia.
Putin's visit
Japan's Stance
Takaichi said the visit 'hurts the feelings of the Japanese people and is absolutely unacceptable.'
Russia's Stance
Moscow called the Japanese remarks 'anti-Russian' and said any questioning of its sovereignty is 'absolutely unacceptable and unlawful.'
- Disputed islands
- Four islands known as Southern Kurils (Russia) and Northern Territories (Japan)
- Protester
- Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin
- Protest recipient
- Japanese Ambassador to Moscow Akira Muto
- Trigger
- Putin's visit to a disputed island last week
- Japan's objection
- Takaichi called the visit 'absolutely unacceptable'
- Russia's response
- Sovereignty 'indisputable'; reserves right to 'appropriate countermeasures'
- Dispute duration
- Unresolved for eight decades
- Background
- Japan sanctioned Russia over its 2022 invasion of Ukraine