US President Donald Trump will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. He has hinted at a possible “land swap” deal to end the Ukraine war. The venue choice is steeped in historical irony. In 1867, the US bought Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million — a bargain at 2 cents an acre. At the time, the deal was mocked as “Seward’s Folly.” Today, Alaska is rich in gold, oil, and critical minerals.
Back then, Russia sold the territory due to economic woes and a collapsing fur trade. Now, Trump’s proposal to swap Ukrainian territories for peace recalls that historic land transfer.
Alaska’s Russian Past & Lingering Influence
Alaska was once Russian America. Many Russian nationalists still call its sale a historic mistake. In 2014, Putin dismissed calls to reclaim it, joking it was “too cold.” Yet Russian influence remains visible. The Russian Orthodox Church still operates there.
Communities of Russian heritage, like the Old Believers, continue to live in the state. Geographically, Russia and the US are only 2.5 miles apart at the Diomede Islands.
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Trump’s Land Swap Idea
In 2025, Trump says a territorial exchange could benefit both Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected any concessions. He maintains that Russia’s aggression cannot be rewarded.
The voluntary selling of Alaska by Russia in the 19th century stands in stark contrast to this. Although Ukraine was once part of the Soviet Union, its current position is based on security and sovereignty.
Symbolism or Strategic Signal?
Trump’s choice of Alaska carries symbolic weight. Meeting Putin on land once owned by Russia can be framed as a display of American control. However, pro-Putin propagandists could twist any Ukrainian land gain into a nationalist victory, portraying it as part of a historic “territorial reclamation.”
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Adding to the intrigue, Trump mistakenly told reporters he would meet Putin “in Russia” before correcting himself to Alaska. Critics joked he might offer Alaska back. While unlikely, the gaffe fuels perceptions about his stance toward Moscow.
Will History’s Miscalculations Repeat?
If Trump brokers a deal that hands over Ukrainian regions like Donetsk or Luhansk without Zelensky’s consent, it could be a strategic loss for Ukraine and the West. The Alaska Purchase turned into a major US win despite initial skepticism. A Ukraine land swap could become the reverse — a short-term peace that cements long-term instability.
