18/08/2026
apan’s Ambassador to Russia, Akira Muto, spent about 25 minutes at the Russian Foreign Ministry after being summoned over Tokyo’s objections to President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Iturup in the disputed Kuril Islands. Muto had initially declined to attend the meeting, citing health concerns, but appeared after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov publicly criticized his absence. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova had earlier joked that Muto had “suddenly felt much better” following Lavrov’s remarks. After the meeting, the ambassador left without speaking to reporters.