Alaskans Rally Against Putin as Trump Meets Russian Leader

Several hundred demonstrators gathered in Anchorage, Alaska, to protest the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The rally took place ahead of a high-stakes summit scheduled for September 22, 2023, marking the first in-person discussion between the two leaders since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The meeting aims to establish grounds for a potential ceasefire in the ongoing conflict.

Protesters began assembling early on Friday morning at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, chanting slogans in support of Ukraine. They voiced their opposition to the Russian leader’s presence in Alaska, which was once part of Russian territory before its sale to the United States in 1867. Among the rallying calls was a demand for the return of approximately 20,000 Ukrainian children reportedly taken by Russian forces.

The local organizers, including the Razom for Ukraine foundation, emphasized that “Alaska opposes tyranny,” urging supporters to unite against what they termed an “international war criminal.” Ostap Yarysh, a media advisor for the organization, shared footage from the protest on social media, asserting that “Ukraine and Alaska — Russian never again.”

In a statement, the Native Movement NGO condemned the decision to host Putin, stating it represented a betrayal of Alaska’s history and the moral imperatives surrounding the suffering in Ukraine and other occupied territories. The organization called for Trump to refrain from making any deals with the Russian leader.

Despite criticism, Trump expressed intentions to facilitate a trilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy following the Alaska summit. He mentioned that there are “three ideas” for locations, with Alaska being the “by far the easiest.” The summit has generated cautious optimism among Ukraine and its European allies, especially after Trump intensified his criticism of Putin and proposed U.S. security guarantees to advance peace talks.

On September 21, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed this direction, stating in a press conference, “To achieve peace, I think we all recognize that there’ll have to be some conversation about security guarantees.” Initially suggesting a “land for peace” deal, Trump later assured Ukrainian and European leaders he would not discuss this topic with Putin without Zelenskyy’s involvement.

The White House has sought to manage expectations regarding the meeting, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt describing the summit as a “listening exercise.” Despite this, Trump has indicated he expects Putin to engage seriously, warning of “very severe consequences” should the Russian president fail to take steps toward ending the conflict.

In contrast, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov indicated that Russia does not anticipate any formal agreements emerging from the Alaska meeting, underlining the complexities and challenges that still lie ahead in diplomatic negotiations.