Putin's Provocation: A Reckoning for Japan Russia Relations Vladimir Putin's visit to the Kuril islands this week was a deliberate provocation against Tokyo, underscoring the deep seated distrust between Russia and Japan.
The Russian president's decision to tread on disputed territory long claimed by Japan is a stark reminder of the enduring tensions between these two nations.
At its core, this dispute involves more than just a few rocky outcrops in the Pacific.