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Russian TV host Vladimir Solovyov, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, recently called for Alaska’s return to Russia during a recent Russian-state media program.

Newsweek has reached out to Russia’s foreign ministry and the U.S. State Department via email for comment.

Why It Matters

Alaska once belonged to Russia. In 1867, it was sold to the United States after then-President Andrew Johnson signed the Alaska Treaty. It gained the status of a state on January 3, 1959. Alaska and Russia are positioned about 53 miles apart at their closest point.

Tensions around Russia and Alaska intensified in January 2024 when reports surfaced that Putin was looking into reobtaining Alaska, reviving an effort pushed by Russian media throughout the ongoing war in Ukraine that Moscow could seize the state.

Tensions remain high between North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Russia amid the Russian-Ukraine war as NATO leaders have increasingly warned that direct conflict with Moscow is a realistic danger. This comes after Putin and senior Russian officials have repeatedly threatened nuclear escalation against Kyiv and its Western partners since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Last month, Putin upped Moscow’s nuclear rhetoric after the U.S. allowed Kyiv to use longer-range ATACMS to strike inside Russia, formalizing changes to his country’s nuclear doctrine that lowers the threshold for atomic weapons use.

Along with the nuclear threat, NATO members such as Germany and the Baltic states have accused Moscow of hybrid attacks and said after the Ukraine war, Moscow could then make a move on countries in the alliance.

What To Know

During the recent program, Solovyov said Finland, Warsaw, the Baltics, Moldova, and Alaska should be “returned to the Russian Empire.”

“Do you think I’m joking when I mention Finland, Warsaw, the Baltics, Moldova? Everything returned to the Russian Empire. And Alaska too, while you’re at it,” Solovyov said in a translated video.

The clip was posted on Saturday by Anton Gerashchenko, a former adviser to the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

“According to propagandist Solovyov, Finland, Warsaw, the Baltics, Moldova, and even Alaska should be ‘returned to the Russian Empire.’ They won’t stop at Ukraine. The Russian imperialists are insatiable,” Gerashchenko wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Four Russian military aircraft entered international airspace close to Alaska on December 17, the U.S. and Canada’s joint command said.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) announced that it detected and tracked the aircraft operating within the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

The Russian planes did not enter sovereign U.S. or Canadian territory, and the incident was not perceived as a threat. However, such encounters are not uncommon, and NORAD announced that a number of Russian aircraft entered the Alaska ADIZ in September.

Four aircraft were spotted on September 23; two Russian Il-38 patrol aircraft were tracked on September 14 and 15; two Tu-142 maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft were seen on September 13; and two unspecified Russian aircraft were identified on September 11.

What People Are Saying

State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said during a press briefing about Putin’s January comments: “I think I can speak for all of us in the U.S. government to say that certainly he’s not getting [Alaska] back.”

Deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev joked about Alaska in January on X, teasing that “war is unavoidable,” since the State Department said Russia was not getting Alaska back. He added a laughing emoji to the post.

Keir Giles, a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House, previously told Newsweek: “Continued Russian approaches toward U.S. airspace are a reminder that while the bulk of Russia’s land forces are tied down in Ukraine, its air and naval forces continue to pose a global threat to its adversaries including the United States.

“It’s another indicator that Russia is readying itself for confrontation with the West beyond Ukraine, and any break in the fighting there – for instance through a ceasefire – will allow Russia to reconstitute its forces even faster without Ukraine destroying them almost as fast as they are rebuilt.”

What Happens Next

Although it remains unclear if Russia will make moves against Alaska. As the Russia-Ukraine war continues, tensions between Moscow and NATO are likely to increase, especially if the alliance’s European members bear more of the brunt of support for Ukraine.

The U.S. and other Western countries have been providing Ukraine with military aid to defend itself against Russia.

HOMER, Alaska (KTUU) – As Kristen Faulkner walked the stage of the Homer Theater, a few memories came to mind.

“I walked on stage just now in preparation for the event and I have all these memories flooding of being a little mouse in the Nutcracker, a young Clara, and playing piano in Jubilee,” Faulkner said.

Within the halls of Homer High School, Faulkner prepared for another public speaking event. One of many the Alaskan had been the lead in following the 2024 Olympic Games. Only she wouldn’t be speaking to a group of strangers.

This time, she was back in Alaska. Faulkner’s first time in the Halibut capital of the world in well over a year.

“We’ve been looking forward to this since Paris,” Former Mayor of Homer Ken Castner said.

“It’s heartwarming to have her home,” her mother Sara Faulkner said.

Arriving back in the 49th state earlier this week, Friday was one of the first moments the cyclist had spent in town since making Olympic history. Faulkner became one of the highlights for Team USA after winning two gold medals in Paris, including the first for the nation in the women’s road race in 40 years. Faulkner also competed in the women’s Tour De France shortly after, placing 38th overall.

“There’s moments where it sinks in and I’m like ‘wow, I did something really cool,’ she said. “The more I do events like this and come back home and take it in with my friends and family, that’s where it feels a lot more real.”

“It was funny with her siblings because growing up, she was always Katie’s sister or Andrew’s,” Sara Faulkner said. “Now, they’re all Kristen’s sister or brother.”

Now, months removed from those feats, Faulkner’s focus has shifted to helping encourage those back home. An impact felt across the community.

“She’s touched every aspect of our community,” Representative Sarah Vance said. “She just exudes everything Homer is proud of. We focus a lot on empowering our kids and encouraging them to be wonderful and do great things. She is that.”

“I think the biggest thing is to dream really big and never stop believing in yourself,” Faulkner said. “We often sell ourselves short and I think the sky’s the limit if you work hard and believe in yourself.”

Though she hasn’t had the opportunity to return to the trails due to weather, Faulkner says she plans to ride the roads once again when she returns on her next trip. The same twists and turns that helped her grow into the now-renowned cyclist she is today. But those accomplishments haven’t made her complacent as Faulkner says her mind is already on to the next mission.

“I definitely want to try to make the 2028 Olympics, that’s my next big goal,” she said. “Between then, I wanna win a stage of the Tour De France, I wanna maybe go for a world championship at one of the events. I definitely have some big goals.”

But no matter where the competition is; whether it’s Spain, France, or state side in the 2028 LA Games, Faulkner’s ties will always remain in the Last Frontier. A state she’s happy to represent.

“I hope people see that I’m an Alaskan,” Faulkner said. “I hope people see someone that has a rugged, independent spirit and who loves the outdoors.”

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