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Russia Escalates “Historic” Alaska Claims Ahead of Trump-Putin Meeting
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![Photo of Ivan Khomenko]( "Photo of Ivan Khomenko")
Russian officials have renewed statements about historical claims to Alaska ahead of the planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov described Alaska as a “logical location” for the meeting, citing the geographic proximity of the United States and Russia across the Bering Strait and shared economic interests in Alaska and the Arctic region.
Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and a lead negotiator for Moscow, referred to Alaska as “an American of Russian origin” and emphasized its historical ties to the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as Russia’s past military and economic presence in the region.
Some of the historic Russian orthodox churches in Alaska. pic.twitter.com/E4wcgG3mdU
— Kirill A. Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) August 9, 2025
Dmitriev made the remarks during a meeting between Putin and US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff on August 6.
ISW noted that Russian officials and state media have previously made similar statements. In January 2024, Security Council Deputy Chair Dmitry Medvedev said Russia expected Alaska to be “returned any day.” In 2024, Russian television hosts Vladimir Solovyov and Olga Skabeyeva also stated that the United States should hand over the territory to Russia.
In July 2022, State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin warned that Moscow would lay claim to Alaska if Washington froze Russian assets abroad. Earlier, in October 2018, Russian state media outlet RT suggested that Alaska’s “return” should be pursued following the US withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.
The planned Trump–Putin meeting on Alaska comes amid continued references by Russian officials to the territory’s “historical connections” with Russia, a narrative that has periodically resurfaced in Moscow’s political and media discourse.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump announced he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 in Alaska, with the Kremlin highlighting shared economic interests in the region and the Arctic. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy called the state a strategic venue for diplomacy, trade, and security.
