The Kremlin talks again about Alaska: what narratives is Russia promoting after the meeting of Trump and Putin.

Against the backdrop of the meeting between US President Trump and Russian dictator Putin in Alaska, the Kremlin's political elite has reignited discussions about this territory. The rhetoric about 'historical ties' is heard again.

Such a conclusion is drawn by experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

What narratives does the Kremlin promote regarding Alaska

In the lead-up to the meeting on August 15, Russian officials sharply began to characterize this region as 'American of Russian origin' and emphasize Russia's historical territorial ambitions.

In particular, Russian Presidential Assistant Yuri Ushakov proposed Alaska as the meeting venue, citing the proximity of the US and Russia through the Bering Strait and shared economic interests in the Alaska and Arctic regions.

Kirylo Dmitriev, a Russian negotiator, reminded about the 'historical ties' of Alaska with the Russian Orthodox Church, as well as the former military and economic presence of Russia in this region.

Russian propaganda doesn't forget about Alaska

It is worth noting that Russian officials and media have repeatedly expressed demands for the return of Alaska to Russia. Thus, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev stated in January 2024 that Russia expects the return of Alaska 'any day now.'

In 2024, Russian TV hosts Vladimir Solovyov and Olga Skabeeva have also repeatedly demanded the return of Alaska.

Moreover, the Chairman of the State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin threatened in July 2022 to raise claims on Alaska if the US freezes Russian assets abroad.

In October 2018, the state TV channel RT called for persistent demands for the 'return' of Alaska after the US withdrew from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty.

Ukrainians are concerned about the growing activity of Russia regarding Alaska, as this may indicate additional aggression and territorial claims by the Kremlin, which does not contribute to stability in the world.