Moscow responds to Japan's criticism over Vladimir Putin's visit to the Kuril Islands
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a sharp statement directed at the Japanese government. The cause of the diplomatic conflict was President Vladimir Putin's visit to the Kuril Islands, which took place on August 13. Official Tokyo expressed a protest in connection with this trip, calling it unacceptable.
In response to the criticism from Japan, the Russian side reiterated that the Kuril Islands are the sovereign territory of the Russian Federation. Moscow emphasized that the head of state's trips to the country's regions are an internal matter for Russia and do not require coordination with other countries.
Furthermore, Russian diplomats linked Tokyo's dissatisfaction to Japan's current foreign policy stance. Moscow stated that the Japanese government is actively supporting Ukraine and imposing sanctions against Russia. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, such a policy negatively affects bilateral relations and undermines trust between the nations.
In concluding its statement, Moscow threatened Tokyo with "countermeasures." The Russian side emphasized that any unfriendly actions by Japan will not go unanswered. At the moment, the situation remains tense, and diplomatic dialogue between the two states is practically frozen.