Diplomatic Escalation Between Russia and Japan After Putin's Visit to the Kuril Islands

Russia announced on Monday that it had recalled Japan's ambassador following Japan's condemnation of President Vladimir Putin's recent visit to the Kuril Islands, which Tokyo also claims sovereignty over.

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

Prior to visiting the Russian island of Sakhalin, Putin traveled to Iturup Island in the Kuril archipelago, prompting Japan to recall its ambassador to Moscow in protest. In response, Moscow similarly recalled Japan's ambassador, Akira Moto.

On Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told journalists that Japanese officials had "overstepped the bounds of propriety" in their criticism of Putin's visit.

He added: "We recalled the Japanese ambassador," noting that Tokyo initially informed the Russian side that Moto could not attend immediately.

"We were told either he was not in Moscow or that he was unwell—we did not fully understand the situation," Lavrov said.

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 recalling Moto was intended to discuss the "conduct of Japanese leadership" and how ambassadors should "behave in the host country."

Relations between Japan and Russia have deteriorated since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Japan joined other members of the Group of Seven in imposing sanctions on Russia and has provided financial support and non-lethal defense assistance to Kyiv.