When asked about Japan's recent protest against his recent landing on the South Kuril Islands on September 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he was “not surprised” by this and that the responsibility for the deterioration of Russian-Japanese relations lies entirely with the Japanese government. Putin said “signing a peace treaty is a complicated issue.” Russia was willing to discuss related issues with Japan, and has also responded positively on a number of related issues, but Japan's actions have worsened bilateral relations. “100% of this is Japan's fault.” On August 13, Putin landed on the disputed islands of the South Kuril Islands between Russia and Japan. Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador to make a formal protest. In response, the Russian Embassy in Japan said, “Foreign governments are not allowed to interfere with the president's itinerary in his country.”

When asked about Japan's recent protest against his recent landing on the South Kuril Islands on September 1, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he was “not surprised” by this and that the responsibility for the deterioration of Russian-Japanese relations lies entirely with the Japanese government. Putin said “signing a peace treaty is a complicated issue.” Russia was willing to discuss related issues with Japan, and has also responded positively on a number of related issues, but Japan's actions have worsened bilateral relations. “100% of this is Japan's fault.” On August 13, Putin landed on the disputed islands of the South Kuril Islands between Russia and Japan. Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador to make a formal protest. In response, the Russian Embassy in Japan said, “Foreign governments are not allowed to interfere with the president's itinerary in his country.”