Putin and Medvedev Escalate Rhetoric Against Japan Over Kuril Islands Dispute
Russian President Vladimir Putin and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev have issued increasingly confrontational warnings toward Japan over the long-running territorial dispute surrounding the Kuril Islands, as tensions between Moscow and Tokyo remain high following Japan’s alignment with Western sanctions against Russia.
Putin has personally visited Iturup Island, one of the southern Kuril Islands claimed by Japan, in a significant demonstration of Moscow’s position that the strategically important archipelago is firmly under Russian sovereignty.
The territorial dispute dates back to the final days of World War II, when the Soviet Union seized the islands. Japan continues to claim four southern islands Iturup, Kunashir, Shikotan and the Habomai islets which Tokyo refers to as the Northern Territories.
Medvedev has adopted an even more aggressive tone, warning Japan of “terrible consequences” if Tokyo continues to challenge Russia’s sovereignty over the islands.
In a statement on social media, Medvedev declared: “The Kuriles were, are and will remain Russian land.”
The dispute has long prevented Russia and Japan from signing a formal post-World War II peace treaty. Moscow’s increasingly forceful rhetoric has further complicated relations, particularly as Tokyo continues to support Ukraine and participate in Western sanctions against Russia.