What Happened to Kuril Islands?

The Kuril Islands, an archipelago of 56 islands and numerous islets, are a strategically vital chain separating the Sea of Okhotsk from the Pacific Ocean. The core of the dispute centers on the four southernmost islands: Iturup (Etorofu), Kunashir (Kunashiri), Shikotan, and the Habomai Islands. These islands were unilaterally annexed by the Soviet Union following the Invasion of the Kuril Islands at the end of World War II in August 1945, a move Japan has never recognized as legitimate.

The historical context traces back to the 1855 Treaty of Shimoda, which initially defined the border between Iturup and Urup, granting Iturup and the islands to its south to Japan, and Urup and those to its north to Russia. Subsequent treaties and conflicts, including the 1875 Treaty of St. Petersburg and the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, saw shifts in control over Sakhalin and the Kurils. However, the modern dispute solidified after World War II. While the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty stipulated Japan's renunciation of 'all right, title and claim to the Kuril Islands,' it did not explicitly recognize Soviet sovereignty, allowing Japan to argue that the four disputed islands are not part of the Kuril chain mentioned in the treaty.

In 1956, the Soviet-Japanese Joint Declaration formally ended the state of war and restored diplomatic relations, with the Soviet Union offering to return Shikotan and the Habomai Islands upon the conclusion of a peace treaty. However, this offer was revoked in 1960 after Japan renewed its security treaty with the United States. Subsequent negotiations, notably between Russian President Vladimir Putin and then-Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2018, aimed at a breakthrough based on the 1956 declaration, but ultimately collapsed due to differing interpretations of sovereignty over all four islands.

The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, which began in February 2022, significantly impacted the dispute. Japan joined Western nations in imposing sanctions on Moscow, leading Russia to suspend peace treaty negotiations and halt several forms of economic cooperation related to the islands in March 2022. Moscow has since accused Tokyo of adopting a hostile stance. In October 2022, Ukraine formally recognized the Kuril Islands as Japanese territory temporarily occupied by Russia, a symbolic gesture of solidarity.

Economically, the Kuril Islands are rich in natural resources, particularly fisheries, and potentially valuable minerals and offshore hydrocarbons. Russia's Far East economy heavily relies on Kuril fisheries, and the islands hold strategic military value, safeguarding Russia's Pacific Fleet and controlling access to the Sea of Okhotsk. Russia has continued to invest in the islands' development, with federal programs aimed at improving infrastructure and living standards, and has also fortified its military presence.

As of August 2026, the situation remains highly tense. Russia and Japan failed to reach an agreement on fishing quotas for 2026, indicating a further deterioration of practical cooperation. Most notably, on August 13, 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin made his first personal visit to Iturup Island, one of the disputed territories. This visit, during which he inspected local infrastructure and reiterated Russia's sovereignty based on post-war international agreements, sparked immediate and strong protests from the Japanese government, which called it 'absolutely unacceptable' and a wound to the feelings of the Japanese people. This event underscores Russia's firm stance and signals no immediate intention to soften its position, further complicating any prospects for a peace treaty.