As United States President Donald Trump prepares to hold a meeting on Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, old historical ties are re-emerging.
The talks — aiming to bring peace in Ukraine one step closer — will be held in Alaska, viewed by some Russians as a cultural part of its motherland, with orthodox architecture and arctic conditions.
Trump has previously said both Russia and Ukraine will have to swap land to end the fighting that has cost tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions.
While the US bought the state from the Russians over 150 years ago, some are hailing the choice of venue as a victory for Russia, and perhaps a step towards it reclaiming Alaska.
'Alaska is ours'
Alaska, which was once a Russian colony, was bought by the US in 1867 for US$7.2 million ($11 million), or roughly 2 US cents per acre.
It's of strategic importance to the US, as it provides a large coastline across the Pacific and Arctic oceans with several military bases and commercial harbours.
Its location has been particularly lauded by Trump himself, who has also shown interest in buying Greenland several times during his two presidential terms, due to its geography and intensifying Chinese and Russian military activity in the region.
"I'm going to see Putin. I'm going to Russia, on Friday," the US president said mistakenly, ahead of the much-anticipated summit.
On the streets and airwaves of Russia, the idea that Alaska rightfully belongs to Russia remains alive, often in satirical or provocative forms.
A billboard proclaiming "Alaska is ours" briefly appeared in a Siberian region in 2022, stirring political concern before being revealed as a commercial advertisement.
Now, as this territory becomes the backdrop for a high-stakes diplomatic meeting, it's a strong reminder of Alaska's Russian roots.
Russia's special envoy on international economic cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, said the decision to hold the summit in Alaska was symbolically important for the US-Russian partnership.
"Born as Russian America — Orthodox roots, forts, fur trade — Alaska echoes those ties and makes the US an Arctic nation," Dmitriev wrote on X.
Last year, Russian state TV presenter Olga Skabeyeva referred to the US territory as "our Alaska".
Kremlin-aligned media outlets are reportedly gushing over their country's links to the region.
A Russian billboard that appeared in Siberia in 2022, which read "Alaska nasha", which translates to "Alaska is ours", sparked concern among some US politicians. Credit: abc.net.au
"Trump has chosen to host Putin in a part of the former Russian empire," he wrote on X.
"Wonder if he knows that Russian nationalists claim that losing Alaska, like Ukraine, was a raw deal for Moscow that needs to be corrected."
Following the 2022 billboard incident, Alaska's governor, Mike Dunleavy, weighed in with a "good luck" post on social media.
"To the Russian politicians who believe they can take back Alaska: Good luck," he wrote on X.
'Alaska is the most strategic location in the world'
In his latest tweet, Dunleavy described the state as a "bridge between nations", welcoming the upcoming meeting between the two leaders.
"Alaska is the most strategic location in the world, sitting at the crossroads of North America and Asia, with the Arctic to our north and the Pacific to our south," he wrote on X last week.
"With a mere two miles separating Russia from Alaska, no other place plays a more vital role in our national defence, energy security, and Arctic leadership.
He said what happens in the Arctic and the Pacific impacts Alaska before the rest of the country, "so it's fitting that discussions of global importance take place there".
"For centuries, Alaska has been a bridge between nations, and today, we remain a gateway for diplomacy, commerce, and security in one of the most critical regions on earth. The world will be watching, and Alaska stands ready to host this historic meeting."
