# Press review: Putin’s Iturup visit sends message to Japan as EU falls short of gas targets

https://mins.news/en/item/22244

- TASS, 2026-08-14 10:00 UTC
- World
- Original: https://tass.com/pressreview/2172687

> Russian newspapers say Vladimir Putin’s visit to the Kuril Islands signals that Moscow considers the sovereignty issue settled, prompting a protest from Japan. They also highlight the EU’s lagging winter gas-storage targets and fears that Russian retaliation for vessel seizures could heighten the risk of confrontation at sea with Europe.

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