By Lubomyr Luciuk
Aug 13, 2025
Maybe he should start looking for a new job. As Alaska’s governor, Mike Dunleavy has been a great booster for President Donald Trump. That could change. Twice, just recently, his dear leader proclaimed, “I’m going to see Putin. I’m going to Russia on Friday.” Predictably, some scoffed, detecting evidence of this president’s ignorance of geography. Everyone knows Alaska is in America. But pause for a moment – perhaps Trump’s words hint at his negotiating strategy, in fact betray a more nuanced appreciation of history than he is normally credited with, his subtle way of reminding us he is a master at “the art of the deal.” And since his trusted advisors, including real estate developer turned international diplomat Steve Witkoff, know Alaska was part of the Tsarist Russian Empire until 1867, so must Trump. Extending an invitation to an internationally wanted war criminal, Vladimir Putin, may not be as gauche a move as we of the hoi polloi think. Instead, it could be crafty. While Putin postures about a once-upon-a-time “Russian America,” the President secures a “home court” advantage, displaying geopolitical acumen.
Also consider this: President Trump has several times insisted that “a land swap” is necessary for securing peace. On 11 August, he reminded us that the Russians have “taken some very prime territory” from Ukraine. Elaborating, he said, “In real estate, we call it oceanfront property. That’s always the most valuable property.” He’s right. Add up Crimea’s coastline (approximately 1,000–1,628 km) and the occupied areas of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia (roughly 200–300 km based on Russia’s partial control of the Azov and Black Sea littorals), and Moscow controls roughly 1,200–1,900 km of Ukrainian coastline. Kyiv is left with effective control over only 800–1,500 km, primarily along the northwestern Black Sea coast, around the Odesa and Mykolaiv regions.
The President’s perspective possibly reflects ideas he developed while resolving conflict in another hotly contested place, Gaza. In January, February, April, and July of 2025, speaking about this “incredible piece of important real estate,” Mr Trump described Gaza’s transformation into the “Riviera of the Middle East.” Mr Witkoff’s expressed beliefs align closely with Trump’s vision for a relandscaped Holy Land.
Now the President is surely aware of how right-wing Russian politicians, including close confederates of Vladimir Putin, have called for getting Alaska back. Among them is Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the Russian State Duma. In July 2022, he openly threatened that Russia would “take back Alaska.” Then there’s Sergei Mironov, leader of “A Just Russia-For Truth” Party (sic !), who thinks Alaska’s return to “Mother Russia” is only fair, part-compensation for the $320 billion in frozen Russian assets held by the West. Cheering them on, in his inimitable Joseph Goebbels-like style, is Vladimir Solovyov, a state TV propagandist known for neo-fascist antics. And finally, there is Dmitry Medvedev, a former President of the so-called Russian ‘Federation,’ currently Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council and, always, Putin’s pliable factotum. He has repeatedly threatened our decadent West with a nuclear holocaust – he did so in July 2023, September and November 2024, and again in July and August 2025. In
January 2024, on social media, he declared a war over Alaska was “unavoidable.” But he was probably just joking. He’s known to enjoy luxury wines and certainly is not the only Russian oligarch taken to much heavier drinking (than usual) ever since Putin’s 3-day “special military operation” was launched against Ukraine, 1,268 days ago this Friday. Medvedev’s boozing had become so obvious by 2023 that even Ukraine’s former Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, suggested he “drink less vodka,” at least before posting stuff on social media, as his jocularity might be misunderstood.
Now, it is true that Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly and emphatically rejected any suggestions about trading land for peace, making it clear that Ukrainians will never reward the aggressor. But then consider this – Zelensky hasn’t been invited to Alaska, which is odd for those who think that getting the actual parties to a conflict to meet would be a first step toward negotiating a settlement. That is why I think Trump is about to do something remarkable. I think he will give up land for peace. He will give Putin, his “good friend,” the state of Alaska (about 17.5% of the USA’s total land area). In return, Vladimir will withdraw his legions from the temporarily-occupied Ukrainian territories (about 18-20% of pre-2014 Ukraine). President Trump’s selfless gesture will earn him a Nobel Peace Prize. He wants one. Win-win-win.
Yes, I know, Governor Dunleavy once tweeted “good luck” to those Russian politicians who want Alaska back, reminding everyone his state is home to “hundreds of thousands of armed Alaskans and military members that will see it differently.” But I hope Mike and his friends don’t fight. Trump’s formula – prescribed for the Palestinians and now being fed to the Ukrainians – is hard to swallow. But if the “greatest of all American presidents” gives Alaska up, he will have demonstrated for all the path to a just and lasting international peace. Even Mike must want that. So, as we wait for the “very stable genius” to do his thing, let us recall what is written in the Trump Bible, in Matthew 23:3, where our Lord Jesus advised: “But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” Gazans and Ukrainians will follow where good President Trump leads, by example.
Lubomyr Luciuk is a Professor Emeritus of The Royal Military College of Canada
