Russia recalls Japanese ambassador following Tokyo's condemnation of Putin's visit to the Kuril Islands

These disputed islands, located in the far east of Russia and known in Japan as the “Northern Territories,” which were seized by the Soviet Union in 1945, have remained a source of tension in Russian-Japanese relations.

Putin had traveled to Iturup Island in the Kuril archipelago after visiting the nearby Russian island of Sakhalin, prompting Japan to summon the Russian ambassador to protest.

He added, “We summoned the Japanese ambassador,” noting that Tokyo initially informed the Russian side that Moto could not attend immediately.

Later, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told the official Tass news agency that after Lavrov’s remarks, the Japanese ambassador “suddenly began to feel better” and would attend on Tuesday.

Lavrov clarified that summoning Moto was intended to discuss “the behavior of the Japanese leadership” and how ambassadors should “conduct themselves in the host country.”

Relations between Japan and Russia have deteriorated since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine in 2022.

Japan joined the other G7 nations in imposing sanctions on Russia and providing financial support and non-lethal defense assistance to Kyiv.