The United States has condemned the Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the disputed Kuril Islands, saying it recognizes Japan’s sovereignty over the Northern Territories. Putin visited the Kuril Islands for the first time in his 26-year tenure on Thursday, Aug. 13, drawing fresh attention to the decades-long territorial dispute with Japan that traces back to the Soviet Union and World War II.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “As Japan and the United States work together through their alliance to promote prosperity across the entire Indo-Pacific region, we strongly oppose any actions that would undermine peace and stability in the region,” George Glass, the US ambassador to Japan, said in a statement on Friday, Aug. 14. US joins Kyiv in condemning the strike, Russia rejects objections On Thursday, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Moscow of using the same tactics of occupation it has been using in its war against Ukraine. “Putin’s provocative visit to Japan’s Etorofu island demonstrates utter disrespect to Japan,” Sybiha said in a statement, adding that the visit “represents a deliberate attempt to intimidate, escalate tensions, and normalize illegal occupation.” Japan has since summoned Russia’s ambassador over the matter, according to AFP. “The Northern Territories are an inherent part of Japan’s territory, both historically and under international law,” Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said.