Russia summons Japan’s ambassador to Moscow over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s ‘anti-Russian’ remarks.
Revealed On 18 Aug 2026
Russia has strongly protested to Japan’s ambassador to Moscow the “anti-Russian” feedback made by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited one of many disputed Kuril Islands for the primary time final week.
Putin’s controversial visit to the territories final Thursday prompted Japan to summon Russia’s ambassador in protest.
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Japan’s prime minister known as Putin’s go to to the disputed islands “grave” and “completely unacceptable”. “The Northern Territories are inherently a part of Japan’s territory, each traditionally and beneath worldwide legislation,” she stated.
“This go to has additional hardened anti-Russian sentiment inside Japan and has made the restoration of relations over the medium- to long- time period harder,” Takaichi added.
Japan’s ambassador to Moscow left the assembly at Russia’s Ministry of International Affairs on Tuesday after 25 minutes with out making any remark.
Disputed islands
Ties between Russia and Japan have lengthy been dogged by the Kuril Islands, identified in Japan because the Northern Territories.
The islands have been seized in 1945 by the Soviet Union, which went on to expel the Japanese inhabitants.
The dispute over the southern Kuril Islands – Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and the Habomai Islands – prevented Russia and Japan from signing a post-World Warfare II peace treaty.
Deteriorating relations
On Monday, Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov stated Takaichi’s feedback on Putin’s go to had “crossed the road of decency” and criticised Tokyo’s “militaristic line”.
Relations between Moscow and Tokyo have worsened since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Japan has joined different G7 nations in sanctioning Russia and giving monetary and non-lethal defence support to Ukraine, which recognises Japan’s declare over the disputed islands.
Japan not directly helps Ukraine’s air defence by exporting domestically produced Patriot interceptor missiles to america, serving to replenish US stockpiles which have been diminished by army support to Kyiv.
Analysts stated Putin’s go to to the Kurils might be a warning to Japan to not deepen its assist for Ukraine by supplying Patriot missiles on to Kyiv or working nearer with NATO.
Lately, Japan has relaxed pacifist insurance policies by lifting a ban on deadly weapons exports. Nevertheless it stays unable to produce deadly army tools on to a rustic at struggle, together with Ukraine.
