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Putin Visited Islands Taken From Japan in World War II, Prompting Objections From Tokyo

Vladimir Putin made a rare presidential visit to the Kuril Islands, seized from Japan by the Soviet Union after World War II.

SourcesThe Guardian12:56 UTCNPR16:40 UTCThe New York Times22:37 UTCSave

The Guardian, NPR and The New York Times

Key points

From The Guardian’s report
  • Japan summoned the Russian ambassador after Putin’s first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands.
  • Tokyo and Moscow dispute the islands known as Northern Territories in Japan and Southern Kurils in Russia.
  • Japan calls the visit 'absolutely unacceptable' and says it contradicts Japan’s position on the territory.
  • Putin visited Etorofu, met residents, and toured facilities during the trip.
  • The dispute has prevented a formal peace treaty since World War II.

Why it matters. Japan claims the islands, and the visit could complicate relations with Russia over the longstanding territorial dispute.

What to watch. Watch for further objections from Tokyo and effects on Russia-Japan discussions about the islands.

Coverage

Oldest first · UTC

“Japan condemns visit by Vladimir Putin to disputed Kuril Islands”

Key points from The Guardian
  • Japan summoned the Russian ambassador after Putin’s first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands.
  • Tokyo and Moscow dispute the islands known as Northern Territories in Japan and Southern Kurils in Russia.
  • Japan calls the visit 'absolutely unacceptable' and says it contradicts Japan’s position on the territory.
  • Putin visited Etorofu, met residents, and toured facilities during the trip.
  • The dispute has prevented a formal peace treaty since World War II.
SourceThe GuardianUnited KingdomLeanCenter-leftCredibilityRatings: AllSides, MBFCRead at The Guardian

“Vladimir Putin's first visit to disputed Pacific islands draws Tokyo protest”

Key points from NPR
  • Putin makes his first visit to Russia's Kuril Islands, disputed with Japan.
  • He toured Iturup Island, visiting a fish plant, hospital, and school.
  • Japan protested, calling Etorofu (Iturup) part of its inherent territory.
  • Tokyo summoned Russia's ambassador and lodged a strong protest over the trip.
  • Russian officials described the visit as a sovereign decision and a step toward dialogue.
SourceNPRUnited StatesLeanCenter-leftCredibilityRatings: AllSides, MBFCRead at NPR

Coverage

Oldest first · UTC
SourceThe GuardianUnited KingdomLeanCenter-leftCredibilityRatings: AllSides, MBFCRead at The Guardian“Japan condemns visit by Vladimir Putin to disputed Kuril Islands”
Key points from The Guardian
  • Japan summoned the Russian ambassador after Putin’s first visit to the disputed Kuril Islands.
  • Tokyo and Moscow dispute the islands known as Northern Territories in Japan and Southern Kurils in Russia.
  • Japan calls the visit 'absolutely unacceptable' and says it contradicts Japan’s position on the territory.
  • Putin visited Etorofu, met residents, and toured facilities during the trip.
  • The dispute has prevented a formal peace treaty since World War II.
SourceNPRUnited StatesLeanCenter-leftCredibilityRatings: AllSides, MBFCRead at NPR“Vladimir Putin's first visit to disputed Pacific islands draws Tokyo protest”
Key points from NPR
  • Putin makes his first visit to Russia's Kuril Islands, disputed with Japan.
  • He toured Iturup Island, visiting a fish plant, hospital, and school.
  • Japan protested, calling Etorofu (Iturup) part of its inherent territory.
  • Tokyo summoned Russia's ambassador and lodged a strong protest over the trip.
  • Russian officials described the visit as a sovereign decision and a step toward dialogue.

Why it’s in the Brief

Ranked 2nd of 10.

Starting score
5.0
Public-interest topic
+1.0
Public-interest terms in the text
+1.25
High-reliability sources
+0.75
Corroboration by independent outlets
+1.6
Score
9.6

The ranking is the same for everyone.

Perspective mix. 3 center-left.RatingsAllSides and Media Bias/Fact CheckLean and credibility are curated from their public ratings.Unknown outlets stay unrated, never guessed.

Blindspot. No right-leaning outlet is covering this story. 2 of 3 outlets are United States-based. Worth knowing before you make up your mind.