According to TASS, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on the 17th that Russia had notified Japan's ambassador to Russia, Masahiko Fujieda, to be summoned by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 18th. Previously, the Japanese government expressed strong protest over President Putin's recent inspection of the disputed islands.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov previously revealed that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had sent a summons to Tomoaki Matsuda, but the Japanese embassy responded that due to health reasons, Matsuda would not be able to attend on Friday (14th) or Monday (17th). Zakhareva confirmed on the 17th that Matsuda would go to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the appointed time on Tuesday (18th).
On Thursday, the 13th of this month, Putin inspected Saka Island (known as Iturup Island in Russia) located in the South Kuril Islands, which are disputed territories claimed by Japan. This was Putin's first visit to the disputed island in his capacity as president. Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Kuroda immediately stated that this move "hurt the feelings of Japanese citizens and is absolutely unacceptable." The Japanese government subsequently summoned Russian Ambassador to Japan Nozdrev and expressed strong protest.
Regarding whether the Russian side actually sent out a summons, and whether the Japanese side would attend as scheduled, an official from the Japanese Embassy in Russia declined to comment, citing diplomatic sensitivity.
The Japanese claim that the four islands of Okhotsk, Kujū, Sednaya, and Shikimura (referred to by Russia as the South Kuril Islands) were illegally occupied by the Soviet Union shortly after Japan surrendered during World War II. Russia, on the other hand, insists that the occupation is legally valid. This territorial dispute has led to the failure of both Japan and Russia to conclude a post-war peace treaty to date.
