Russia summons Japanese ambassador over Kuril Islands dispute

The islands, known in Japan as the Northern Territories, were seized by the Soviet Union in 1945. Following Putin's visit, Japan summoned Russia's ambassador in protest, to which Moscow retaliated by summoning Japanese envoy Akira Muto. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Japanese officials had "crossed the line of decency" in their criticism of Putin's trip.

Lavrov added that the summons was intended to address "the conduct of the Japanese leadership" and how ambassadors "should conduct themselves in the host country." Relations between Japan and Russia have deteriorated since the 2022 conflict in Ukraine, with Japan joining other G7 countries in sanctioning Russia and providing aid to Kyiv.