Will Putin’s Kuril Islands visit push Japan closer to Ukraine?

With its need for Russian gas limiting fresh sanctions, analysts say Tokyo has few economic weapons left to respond

Putin made his first-ever visit to one of four disputed islands, collectively called the Northern Territories by Japan and the Southern Kurils by Russia, last Thursday.

Japanese media reported that senior foreign ministry officials discussed possible responses on Friday, including tougher sanctions and the temporary recall of Japan’s ambassador.

During the meeting, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin warned that his country reserved the “right to take appropriate countermeasures” against Japan, given Tokyo’s continued policy of sanctioning Moscow and its support for Kyiv, according to the Russian foreign ministry.