Protests Erupt in Alaska Against Putin’s Upcoming Visit
Protests have erupted in Alaska in response to the news of a planned visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, with organizers condemning his presence on U.S. soil as a betrayal of moral values. “Ukraine and Alaska — Russian never again,” declared Ostap Yarysh, media advisor of the Razom for Ukraine foundation, in a post on X, along with footage of the protest, reports 24brussels.
The rally’s local organizers emphasized that “Alaska opposes tyranny,” urging supporters to gather in Anchorage to voice their opposition to hosting an “international war criminal.” The Native Movement NGO echoed these sentiments, stating, “The decision to host Putin, a war criminal, on Alaskan soil is a betrayal of our history and the moral clarity demanded by the suffering of Ukraine and other occupied peoples,” urging former President Trump not to engage with Putin.
Amid rising tensions, Trump announced intentions to convene a trilateral meeting involving the Ukrainian president and Putin shortly after the Alaska meeting. The U.S. president identified three potential locations for this summit, asserting that Alaska would provide the easiest option.
Ukraine and its European allies are cautiously optimistic about the summit, following Trump’s recent hardening of criticism against Putin regarding his role in prolonging the conflict. The former president proposed U.S. security guarantees to facilitate a ceasefire—a significant shift from his previous stance. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed this approach during a press conference, stating, “To achieve a peace, I think we all recognize that there’ll have to be some conversation about security guarantees.”
Although Trump initially suggested the possibility of Ukraine “swapping land for peace,” he later reassured Ukrainian and European leaders that any discussion on such matters would not occur without the inclusion of President Zelenskyy.
