How the residents of Alaska are waiting for Putin – Trump. “It should be in prison and it comes here.”

On the verge of meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, pro-Ukrainian protesters went out on Friday in Anchorage. However, the opinions of the inhabitants of the largest city in Alaska are divided: while some welcomes Trump's initiative, others condemn that Volodimir Zelenski is only a spectator at the summit in which the fate of Ukraine is discussed.

“Putin should be in prison and he comes to Alaska like that, unstoppably,” said Hanna Correa, 40, one of the locals in Alaska who takes part in the pro-Ukraine protest for the BBC.

The woman refers to the arrest warrant issued on behalf of Putin by the International Criminal Court for War Crimes, but the US does not recognize the Court, therefore, Putin cannot be arrested.

Correa left Ukraine in 2019 for the life partner, and six years later, the future of his country could be decided in her adoptive city.

US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are to land today at Elmendorf-Richardson military base, a 30-minute drive. The leader of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelenski, is not invited, which Correa considers “quite sad”.

Among those protesting against their arrival are Christopher Kelliher, a 53 -year -old military veteran, originally from Alaska.

“It's hard,” he said about the meeting.

“Putin does not have to be in our state, let alone in our country. We have an idiot at the White House that pleases them,” Kellher continued.

The history of this region with Moscow gives the Summit on Friday an additional significance. The US bought Alaska from the Russians in 1867 for $ 7.2 million.

Critics called the acquisition of “Seward's madness”-referring to William Seward, the US Secretary of State at that time-arguing that the territory was only an frozen desert. Later it was discovered that it hides rare minerals, oil and gas in abundance.

Prayer jobs before the summit

At the Orthodox Church of Saint Tihon in Anchorage, a memory of the Russian inheritance of Alaskăi, three days of prayer were held before the arrival of the leaders.

Priest Nicholas Crange, an American who has recently moved to Alaska after living in Russia for seven years, says the conflict is “particularly painful and close to the parishioners.

“We hope that this meeting will lead to something … at the culmination of this conflict,” said Crange.

This feeling is also shared by Don Cressley, a man who came to fish with his nephew in the riverbed on the outskirts of the city, where they are among the best somons in the world.

“I think it's a good idea (the summit), I would like Zelenski to be here … to end this,” said Don Cressley.

The man wants the end of the war “because of the damage caused to all cities, buildings, people left homeless, without food, supplies, without the means of living.”

The local appreciates that Donald Trump does an “extraordinary job” in the ceaseless negotiations.

How to see from Alaska tensions between US and Russia

Although the US president often speaks warmly about his relationship with Vladimir Putin, the tensions between superpowers persist and are felt more acute here.

Moscow's military planes are frequently detected by flying near the Alaska coast. And in January, Canadian and American fighter jets were mobilized after several Russian aircraft were spotted in the Arctic, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (Norad).

This creates a sense of restlessness for some inhabitants of Alaska who live closer to Russia than Washington DC.

“Although the Cold War has ended between Russia and the US, they constantly patrol our air space,” said Russell Wilson, resident in Anchorage.

“If the president does not take firm measures, we could be the next Ukraine,” he added.

However, other inhabitants of Alaska consider a return to the hostilities in the Cold War an unbelievable fantasy.