Putin's Kuril visit deepens Russia-Japan rift as India watches

Imagine two big countries, Russia and Japan, that argue over a group of small islands in the sea called the Kuril Islands.

Russia says the islands belong to Russia, but Japan says four of them are Japan's islands that were taken away unfairly long ago.

The leader of Russia, President Vladimir Putin, just visited one of these islands for the first time since he became Russia's leader.

The leader of Japan, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, said this was not acceptable and that it hurt the feelings of Japanese people.

The argument began after World War II, a very big war that ended many years ago.

The islands are important because they sit near routes used by ships and submarines and in waters rich in fish and oil.

Japan still buys gas and oil from Russia because it needs the energy, even though the two countries are not friends.

India also owns a small share of an oil project near these islands, so India is paying close attention.

Many countries are watching because this old argument affects safety and energy across the whole region.