"Maybe it's time for us to take Alaska?" How Russia voiced its claims to American territory
On August 15, US President Donald Trump will meet with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Alaska has special historical significance for Russia, and Russians like to repeat that they will take it back. These days, ahead of the meeting, Russian propaganda is not promoting the theme of "Alaska is ours!" But we have collected some previous statements.
Recently, Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, noted that Alaska was "born as Russian America," where there are "Orthodox roots, forts, and fur trading." It is this state, he said, that makes the US an "Arctic country," hinting that Washington owes this to Russia, which sold the state in the past.
At the beginning of the year, Russian officials threatened that Alaska should be returned to Russia. Still, during negotiations with Trump, their radicalism was limited to stories about historical ties and the symbolism of mutually beneficial relations between the US and Russia.
However, we have not forgotten the previous rhetoric of Russian nationalists and traditionalists. Here are a few examples.
In 2021, the well-known propagandist and writer Zakhar Prilepin also promised to return Alaska: "Once, by mistake, on this day in 1867, Alaska was sold to the United States. Zakhar Prilepin's Guard promises to correct this mistake and return the lands discovered by our ancestors to Russia."
In June 2022, Russian news outlets circulated a statement by State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin that Russia has something to return from the US:
"The United States must always remember that Russia has something to return, for example, Alaska." ... It is essential for the US to remember this appeal before attempting to dispose of Russian resources abroad.
Sergey Mironov, leader of the Fair Russia Party– For Truth faction in the Duma, expressed his support for him. Commenting on calls to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine by blocking the Kaliningrad region, he said: "Maybe it’s time for us to sail to Alaska?"
In February 2023, Yuri Gempel, the so-called "chairman of the Crimean Parliament's Committee on Public Diplomacy and Interethnic Relations" proposed reviewing Alaska's status, saying, “Alaska's status should be reviewed taking into account all legal aspects.”
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And in November 2023, top propagandists Margarita Simonyan and Vladimir Solovyov discussed in a semi-joking manner how wonderful it would be to take back Alaska and even California.
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And now, in 2024, RT, headed by Simonyan, has stated: "Separatist sentiments are growing in Alaska: about 36% of residents would support the state's withdrawal from the US."
In the photo, you can see a two-headed eagle with the inscription "People's Republic of Alaska." This is a reference to the separatist entities in Ukraine — the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, which were created with extensive support from Russia.
At the beginning of 2025, Deputy Speaker of the State Duma Petr Tolstoy warned that Alaska could be returned to Russia: "There is no need to play games with Russia, it could end up costing you dearly (don't forget about Alaska)."
Sergey Mironov also reiterated his opinion on the return of Alaska:
"In the case of Trump's plans in the Arctic, the question of Alaska's return to Russia inevitably arises. There are many arguments for recognizing the 1867 agreement on the sale of Russian America as illegal."
The reintegration of Alaska is a dream of propagandists and so-called military correspondents, and as soon as the US criticizes Russia, they immediately raise this issue.
