Kathrine Frich
Some Russian nationalists claim the deal was never a sale but a “100-year lease.”
Some Russian nationalists claim the deal was never a sale but a “100-year lease.”
Pro-Kremlin Media Mocks Trump with ‘People’s Republic of Alaska’ Flag
A Russian nationalist Telegram channel, Tsargrad TV, posted a provocative image showing a fictional “People’s Republic of Alaska” flag.
The post came just days before Vladimir Putin’s planned meeting with Donald Trump in Anchorage.
The channel asked its followers for feedback on the design, sparking debates about which colours best suited the fake flag.
Alaska’s History with Russia Still Fuels Nationalist Myths
Alaska was once part of the Russian Empire but was sold to the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million, about $130 million today.
Some Russian nationalists claim the deal was never a sale but a “100-year lease.”
This distorted narrative has become a regular feature in pro-Kremlin propaganda.
Flag Design Echoes Russian Symbolism
The fake flag uses a horizontal tricolour of white, blue, and black with a double-headed eagle emblem.
At its centre is a panoramic view of Alaska, replacing the traditional Russian crest.
The design is meant to evoke Russia’s national symbols while claiming the territory as its own.
The ‘Orthodox Oligarch’ Behind the Message
Tsargrad TV is owned by Konstantin Malofeev, a far-right businessman nicknamed the “Orthodox oligarch” for his close ties to the Russian Church hierarchy.
Malofeev is under Western sanctions for funding anti-Ukrainian movements since 2014.
His channel often runs content aimed at inflaming nationalist sentiment.
Propaganda Campaign Has Long Roots
Russian officials and media figures have frequently laid claim to Alaska.
In 2022, Russian Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin threatened to “take back” the state if Washington froze Russian assets over the invasion of Ukraine.
Billboards declaring “Alaska is ours!” appeared in several Russian cities that year.
Trump–Putin Summit Fuels Speculation
Trump is set to meet Putin in Anchorage on Friday to discuss a possible ceasefire in Ukraine.
The choice of location, Alaska, has given fuel to conspiracy theories among some residents.
Critics point to Trump’s vague comments about a possible “land swap” as adding to the rumours.
Local Residents Voice Fears of a ‘Handover’
Ess Brown, a resident of Anchorage, told Der Spiegel that people are worried about what the talks could mean for their state.
The “wildest” theory, Brown said, is that Trump could agree to give Alaska back to Russia as part of a deal to end the war in Ukraine.
While highly unlikely, the idea has captured imaginations.
Kremlin’s Top TV Hosts Join the Chorus
Influential Russian propagandists, including Vladimir Solovyov and Olga Skabeeva, have publicly declared that Alaska belongs to Russia.
Such statements are part of a wider narrative aimed at portraying Moscow as reclaiming lost territories.
