Back in 1991, as the Soviet Union was crumbling and cheers erupted from the West, Vladimir Putin’s pop-rock band dropped a catchy tune called Don’t Fool Around, America. The song was a nostalgic take on a lost cause from way back in 1867 — the sale of Alaska to the United States.
In that upbeat, accordion-laced track, they didn’t acknowledge the massive shift in geopolitics happening at the time; instead, they directed their focus across the Bering Strait, calling out to reclaim:
Give us our dear Alaska back/Give us our dear native land.
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Fast forward to today, and the song’s back in the spotlight as President Donald Trump welcomes Putin to an Alaska military base amidst buzz about whether Russia was shortchanged when selling off this vast territory nearly 600,000 square miles large.
The Concept of Russian America
As part analysis, part longing, discussions around Alaska flare up in Russia, particularly during tumultuous times. According to Andrei Znamenski, a history expert from the University of Memphis, these stories tend to bubble up when Russians feel a sense of betrayal regarding their empire’s past.
The intensity of this narrative has peaked recently, especially related to the ongoing Ukraine conflict and the Trump-Putin meeting that took place on August 15. Znamenski remarked, Some voices in the media are claiming Russia never truly sold Alaska to the U.S. Instead, they argue it was just leased, and apparently, that lease has expired.
A Sale Out of Spite
The Russian presence in Alaska dates back to 1784, and evidence of their legacy can still be seen through the numerous Russian Orthodox churches that dot the landscape even today. In some Aleutian communities, a unique blend of Orthodox Christianity and local shamanistic traditions continues to thrive, Znamenski explains, who has even published a book discussing these cultural dynamics.
However, following Russia’s defeat by the British in the tumultuous 1854-56 Crimean War, Tsar Alexander II resolved it was smarter to cut his losses and let Alaska go. Facing pressure from a powerful neighbor eyeing the territory, he ultimately accepted $7 million from the more peaceful United States for the land.
According to Znamenski, It was, quite frankly, an act of spite towards England.
To this day, Alexander II faces criticism from nationalist writers, many of whom view him as a victim of Masonic and Jewish plots. Notably, Ivan Mironov, who wrote A Fateful Deal: How Alaska Was Sold while incarcerated for conspiracy, portrays him in a particularly harsh light.
Memories of a Lost Paradise
Alaska and Crimea share parallels that fuel discussions among some nationalists; they view both territories as historically Russian lands lost due to leaders they deem weak. For example, Boris Yeltsin is wrapped in disdain for having acknowledged Crimea’s status as part of Ukraine following the dissolution of the USSR.
In 2016, just two years post-Russia’s annexation of Crimea, a bold black granite memorial was erected in Yevpatoria, with a message to future generations: We returned Crimea; now it’s your task to get back Alaska.
As highlighted in the song of Lyuba, Siberia and Alaska, the two shores are the same, they encapsulated a sentiment of unity shared among people, blending images of strength and freedom.
A music video illustrated this theme poignantly, showing a machine gun detach Alaska from North America. While Lyuba’s lead singer later stepped into the political arena by joining Putin’s political party, United Russia, the song still resonates among supporters.
The Stakes of Losing or Winning
Among the Russian nationalist intellectuals, Alaska resides in a more symbolic space – less a treasure to be recovered and more of a stern reminder against waiving concessions to the West. Notably, Alexander Dugin, a formidable figure within Russia’s Eurasianist far right and a vocal supporter of Putin, invokes the narrative surrounding Alaska frequently.
Dugin, whose daughter tragically passed away in a 2022 car bombing believed to be a targeting turned tragedy, means business when broaching the significance tied to the Alaska meeting recently.
Putin has often made it clear that the West’s empty promises can never be trusted, he remarked in an article moments before the summit. For Trump, it’s merely a transaction, but for us, it embodies our fate. When it comes down to it, Ukraine will either be ours or nothing at all.
This piece first appeared on USA TODAY.
