Lavrov says Japan's protest over Putin's Kuril Islands visit "crossed the bounds of decency"

At a Moscow meeting on Monday, the Russian and Ghanaian foreign ministers covered economic ties, trade, investment, and African conflicts. Ghana’s envoy reported rising commerce with Russia and broader exports. Lavrov said his country’s defense ministry is looking into Ghana’s requests about missing foreign mercenaries, and that comparable inquiries from other governments go through a dedicated unit. The minister also responded to Tokyo’s displeasure over President Putin’s visit to the Kuril Islands, saying Japan’s protest overstepped acceptable conduct. Japan contests Moscow’s control of the four southernmost islands, which Tokyo refers to as the Northern Territories; the Soviet Union took them at the end of World War II. That unresolved disagreement has kept the two nations from signing a formal peace treaty.