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Alaska In Focus During Trump and Putin Peace Summit

City of Anchorage, Alaska (Photo:© Jeanninebryan |Dreamstime.com)

By Mark Wang

August 15, 2025
6:59 pm
Los Angeles, CA

Donald Trump has traveled to Anchorage, Alaska, for a “high‑stakes” summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. The meeting is set to occur at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, marking the first face-to-face between the two as sitting presidents since 2019. Trump described the summit as aimed at getting Ukraine to “the table,” without negotiating on its behalf. He emphasized that Ukraine must consent to any deals, including territorial adjustments. Although he hinted at potential U.S. security guarantees outside NATO frameworks. Alaska has a rich and complex history, beginning with its Indigenous peoples who have lived there for over 10,000 years. Cultures such as the Inupiat, Yup’ik, Tlingit, and others developed advanced survival techniques, spiritual traditions, and community systems well adapted to the Arctic and sub-Arctic

Trump described the summit as aimed at getting Ukraine to “the table,” without negotiating on its behalf. He emphasized that Ukraine must consent to any deals, including territorial adjustments. Although he hinted at potential U.S. security guarantees outside NATO frameworks.

Alaska has a rich and complex history, beginning with its Indigenous peoples who have lived there for over 10,000 years. Cultures such as the Inupiat, Yup’ik, Tlingit, and others developed advanced survival techniques, spiritual traditions, and community systems well adapted to the Arctic and sub-Arctic environments. In 1741, Russian explorers claimed Alaska and established fur trading posts, exploiting Native populations and resources. The United States purchased the territory from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million, a deal mocked at the time as “Seward’s Folly.” Gold rushes in the late 1800s brought waves of settlers and infrastructure, further displacing Native communities.

Alaska became a U.S. territory in 1912 and gained statehood in 1959 as the 49th state. Oil discoveries in the 1960s, especially at Prudhoe Bay, transformed the economy and led to the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline in 1977. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) in 1971 granted land and financial compensation to Native corporations, reshaping Indigenous land ownership. Today, Alaska plays a vital role in U.S. energy, defense, and climate research. Ongoing debates center around environmental protection, Native sovereignty, and the impacts of climate change on its fragile ecosystems and communities.