Japan protests Putin's Kuril Islands visit, former president Medvedev calls them "Russian land" and threatens consequences

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has criticised Russian leader Vladimir Putin's visit to Iturup, the largest of the disputed Kuril Islands. In response, Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, called the islands "Russian land" and threatened anyone who disagreed with "monstrous consequences".

Source: BBC; Reuters; Medvedev on X (Twitter)

Details: The BBC reported that Takaichi has condemned Putin's first-ever visit to the disputed Kuril Islands in a televised address, describing it as "absolutely unacceptable" and saying it "wounds the feelings of the Japanese people".

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Takaichi said the archipelago belonged to Japan both historically and under international law, adding that Putin's visit has further worsened Japanese public sentiment towards Russia. "I hope that the Russian side will take the gravity of this matter very seriously," Takaichi said.