World
Vladimir Putin visits the Kuril Islands on August 13, 2026; Japan protests
Vladimir Putin is visiting the Kuril Islands on August 13, 2026, in a trip that drew an immediate diplomatic rebuke from Japan. The Japanese foreign minister said Tokyo "protests vigorously" against the visit and regards the archipelago as an "inherent part of Japanese territory." The Kuril Islands are contested by Russia and Japan, and the presidential visit highlights the unresolved territorial dispute between the two countries.