As a person who was born and socialised in russia, I tell you what Putin and russia think about having a Putin-Trump meeting in Alaska.
It means Putin goes to... russia. Let me explain why - in this thread.
First, you need to know that the "Alaska myth" is essential for russia /1
In my school in a town close to Moscow, I was taught in geography class in 1990s, that russia has never sold Alaska to the U.S., but leased it for 100 years. That the U.S. have later forged the contract and broken the original one. That Alaska is russian. /2
In 1991 already, russian band "Lyube" has composed a chauvinist song "Don't be silly America" with a call "give us back Alaska, our native russian land". "Lyube" was one of putin's favourite bands. Note how they sing in military uniforms from the WW2, a common style in 2020s. /2
Notice: in 1991, russia asked the U.S. to send military food rations to feed russian population. And yet they demanded territory from the U.S. In 2014, weeks after russia has occupied Crimea, another song "we have taken Sevastopol and Crimea, we will take Alaska" was published /3
In this weird song, russian kids wearing military uniforms sang: "The world is sick of the U.S. (in the song euphemistically called "the Hegemony"), Europe is lack of decision. Crimea and Sevastopol are ours, and we will bring Alaska back to the home harbour. If the last battle is coming, order us, uncle Vova (Vladimir Putin), we follow! (that is a direct rhyme to a Nazi song "Führer give orders, we follow") /4
In 2020s, billboards with slogans "Alaska is ours" started to appear in russia. Russia's official account on Twitter has published a photo with Vladimir Putin and a bear on Putin's birthday - using a photo from the Museum of Natural History in New York (Alaskan bear). /5
So yes, for Putin and his propagandists it is a great framework. They will start saying "Putin has never left russia, he went to russian land of Alaska, and Trump has acknowledged it". I bet, Putin will present something to Trump what can be seen in a weird way as a claim.
/6
Like some letter from russian settlers on Alaska to Czar where they reported that they have founded a colony in Alaska. On putin's web page they claim not only that Alaska was settled by russians, but that first Californian wine was produced by russians from russian grape. /7
So yes, it is a very fruitful framework for Putin. One can hardly imagine a better setting for russia. Putin will enjoy humiliating Trump and the U.S. Americans. Oh yes, he will enjoy each moment of this triumph. And you will not even notice how you will get humiliated.
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