HomeNewsWorld NewsAsia-PacificJapan Protests Putin's Visit to Disputed Island Published 08/14/2026 14:54 Updated 08/14/2026 15:11 By TaiwanPlus Open in App Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited an island the Soviet Union seized from Japan in the closing days of WWII for the first time. Tokyo has protested the visit, saying it and three surrounding islands are still rightfully Japanese territory. PutinRussiaJapanProtestTokyoPresidentPrime MinisterTakaichi SanaeGeopoliticalKurils