Alaska’s ties to Russia date back to the early 18th century, when Siberian fur traders crossed the Bering Sea to harvest sea otters and other marine mammals for their valuable pelts.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet one-on-one in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday (August 15, 2025) to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This will be the first in-person meeting between a U.S. and Russian leader since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.