Why did Vladimir Putin’s historic Kuril Islands trip spark a fierce Russia-Japan showdown?
Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first official visit to the disputed Kuril Islands on Thursday (August 13, 2026), drawing immediate ire from Japan and straining diplomatic ties. This marked the first time a Russian President set foot on the territory since Dmitry Medvedev’s visit in 2010, and it ignited protests from Tokyo, which claims…