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Will Putin’s Kuril Islands visit push Japan closer to Ukraine?

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Japan is weighing how far to push back after Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a disputed island last week, as analysts debate whether tougher measures would have much impact on Moscow.
Some observers urged Japan to recall its ambassador, impose additional sanctions and deepen cooperation with Ukraine to show it would not be “bullied”, while others said Tokyo had little economic leverage left given already weak bilateral ties and its reliance on Russian natural gas.

Putin made his first-ever visit to one of four disputed islands, collectively called the Northern Territories by Japan and the Southern Kurils by Russia, last Thursday.

Japanese media reported that senior foreign ministry officials discussed possible responses on Friday, including tougher sanctions and the temporary recall of Japan’s ambassador.

Akira Muto, Japan’s ambassador to Russia, arrives at the foreign ministry in Moscow on Tuesday after being summoned over Japanese officials’ criticism of Putin’s Kuril Islands visit. Photo: AFP
On Tuesday, Japan’s envoy to Moscow Akira Muto was summoned to the Russian foreign ministry after Tokyo protested against Putin’s visit.

During the meeting, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin warned that his country reserved the “right to take appropriate countermeasures” against Japan, given Tokyo’s continued policy of sanctioning Moscow and its support for Kyiv, according to the Russian foreign ministry.

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