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Japan Rejects Putin Visit to Disputed Islands as Poland Says It Thwarted Russian Assassination Plot

HeadlineAug 14, 2026

Poland’s prime minister says authorities have arrested a Russian national who was preparing to assassinate a Ukrainian American citizen in Warsaw. Donald Tusk called it Russia’s first attempted attack on a U.S. citizen in a NATO country.

In Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi on Thursday blasted Vladimir Putin over the Russian president’s first-ever visit to the disputed Kuril Islands. It’s one of four islands claimed by both Russia and Japan.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi: “This latest visit to Iturup by the incumbent president of Russia runs contrary to Japan’s consistent position regarding the Northern Territories. Furthermore, it hurts the feelings of the Japanese people and is absolutely unacceptable.”

Meanwhile, President Trump shared a video on Instagram Thursday showing former U.S. Marine Robert Gilman aboard a plane with Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, following Gilman’s release from Russian custody. He had been jailed by Russia for over four years.

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