PUTIN VISITS DISPUTED KURIL ISLANDS

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Iturup, the northernmost island in the Kuril chain, on a trip that marked his first time on the disputed territory. The visit, announced by France 24, triggered a strong protest from Tokyo, which called the trip "absolutely unacceptable."

According to France 24, the trip came after the Soviet occupation of the islands in 1945, a period that has since kept Russia in control of the four southern Kurils that Japan also claims. Japan’s prime minister echoed the protest in a statement described by BBC News, describing the visit as "absolutely unacceptable." The Guardian reported Japan’s condemnation, confirming the diplomatic backlash. A separate Euronews story noted that Putin also watched Russian navy drills off Sakhalin Island, highlighting Russia’s ongoing military presence in the region.

The Kuril Islands dispute has stalled a formal peace treaty between Russia and Japan since the end of World War II and remains a key point of tension in bilateral relations.

• Putin’s visit to Iturup was his first on the disputed Kuril Islands.
• Tokyo protested the visit, labeling it "absolutely unacceptable," a view echoed by the Japanese prime minister and reported by BBC and The Guardian.
• A related Euronews report shows Putin observing navy drills off Sakhalin, underscoring Russia’s continued military activity nearby.

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