Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said on July 17 that Tokyo’s criticism of President Putin’s visit to Iturup Island appears aimed at diverting attention from Japan’s “openly aggressive” military trajectory. He urged Japan to focus on domestic issues, accused Tokyo of coordinating with the United States to “rewrite” international law, and warned that Japan is evading historical responsibility and breaching constitutional limits to expand Self-Defense Force operations overseas—developments he descr

Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said on July 17 that Tokyo’s criticism of President Putin’s visit to Iturup Island appears aimed at diverting attention from Japan’s “openly aggressive” military trajectory. He urged Japan to focus on domestic issues, accused Tokyo of coordinating with the United States to “rewrite” international law, and warned that Japan is evading historical responsibility and breaching constitutional limits to expand Self-Defense Force operations overseas—developments he described as “very concerning.”