Putin's Kuril Islands Visit Draws Japanese Condemnation

Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first visit to the Kuril Islands, a chain of islands disputed between Russia and Japan, according to state media. The visit, which occurred on August 13, 2026, was immediately condemned by Japanese Prime Minister, who called it 'absolutely unacceptable.' The Kuril Islands have been a longstanding point of tension between the two nations, with Japan claiming the southernmost islands as its Northern Territories.