The United Nations has called this Thursday on Russia and Japan to act "with moderation," "responsibly," and to avoid any steps that could lead to an escalation of tension after the visit of Russian President, Vladimir Putin, to the disputed Kuril Islands.
"This is a bilateral issue between member states, but we encourage all parties involved to act with moderation, responsibly, and to avoid any actions that could further aggravate tensions," indicated in a press conference Daniela Gross, one of the spokespersons for the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres.
Putin has traveled for the first time in person to the island of Iturup --Etorofu according to the Japanese designation--, which represents a firm gesture from Moscow regarding the sovereignty of the islands in a delicate context, in which Tokyo, in addition to supporting international sanctions against Russia, has reinforced its joint military exercises with the United States in the Pacific.
During the trip, which included a visit to a fish processing plant and a meeting with local residents, Japanese authorities summoned the Russian ambassador in Tokyo, Nikolái Nozdrév, to convey their formal protest regarding the Russian leader's visit.
Hours earlier, Japanese Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, had described Putin's trip as "absolutely unacceptable," asserting that it "hurts the feelings of the Japanese people."
"The Northern Territories are, from a historical perspective and under International Law, an inherent part of our country," Takaichi stated in an impromptu appearance before the press, warning that the visit will increase Japanese public hostility towards Russia.
In response, the Russian Government has harshly criticized the words of the head of the Japanese Executive, deeming them "extremely outrageous and unacceptable" and rejecting them "categorically" through the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Maria Zajarova, who described them as "politically irrelevant, offensive, and (...) legally null."