In Anchorage, emotions are running high ahead of the Alaska summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Alaska summit reaction spans from fierce protest to cautious hope, as residents confront the global spotlight on their city.
Ukrainian-born Hanna Correa, wrapped in her nation’s flag, joined a crowd lining the road into Anchorage to denounce Putin’s visit. “Putin is supposed to be in jail, and he just comes to Alaska like that,” she said, lamenting that Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky was excluded from the talks. Nearby, military veteran Christopher Kelliher called the meeting “gross,” accusing Trump of catering to the Russian leader.
The region’s ties to Russia run deep. Alaska, purchased from Moscow in 1867 for $7.2 million, still bears Orthodox churches as symbols of its heritage. At St Tikhon Orthodox Church, Priest Nicholas Cragle said parishioners had prayed for three days in hopes the summit might “lead to a culmination of this conflict.”
Not all voices were critical. Fisherman Don Cressley, visiting from North Pole, Alaska, welcomed the meeting. “I wish Zelensky was here too… get this thing over with,” he said, praising Trump’s ceasefire efforts and urging an end to the war’s destruction.
Some residents, mindful of Alaska’s proximity to Russia, expressed unease. Anchorage local Russell Wilson pointed to frequent sightings of Russian military planes near the state’s coast. “If the president doesn’t put the hammer down, we could be the next Ukraine,” he warned. Others, like Kelliher, brushed off invasion fears, noting Alaskans’ readiness to defend themselves.
As Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson prepares for the leaders’ arrival, the Alaska summit reaction underscores the city’s unique mix of geopolitical awareness, historical memory, and personal stakes in a war fought far away but felt close to home.
