**Alaskans React to the High-Stakes Summit with Putin**

**A wave of protests and support marks the geopolitical gathering in Alaska, where local sentiments reflect on Ukraine and US-Russia relations.**

Anchorage is buzzing with contrasting emotions as residents brace for the arrival of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Alaskans, many waving Ukrainian flags, express their complex sentiments about the high-profile summit while reflecting on the implications for Ukraine.

Hanna Correa, a 40-year-old immigrant from Ukraine, stands among protestors. "Putin is supposed to be in jail, and he just comes to Alaska like that," she shares, tears welling in her eyes. Correa left her homeland in 2019, and now watches as her country's future hangs in the balance amidst an international power play that skips the presence of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.

Military veteran Christopher Kelliher voices his disapproval, stating, "It's gross, it makes you want to take a shower." Kelliher emphasizes the need for stronger leadership, criticizing what he perceives as an appeasement approach toward Putin. He asserts that Alaska does not need an unwanted visitor promoting a destructive agenda.

Historical ties between Alaska and Russia add another layer of significance to the summit. Alaska was purchased from Russia in 1867, a decision initially mocked as 'Seward's Folly.' However, discoveries of natural resources have since redeemed that assessment. Ornate churches like St Tikhon Orthodox Church serve as reminders of the region's Russian heritage, even as local clergy prepare for the leaders' visit with prayers for resolution in the ongoing conflict.

Not all reactions are negative. Fisherman Don Cressley supports the summit's potential, stating, "I wish Zelensky would be out here too… get this thing over with." He emphasizes the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine, hoping for a swift end to the violence that has left many homeless and impoverished.

While tensions between superpowers cause unease in the area, not all Alaskans view an impending Russian threat as serious. Kelliher, armed with the prevailing mindset of local gun ownership, dismisses fears of direct conflict. "Not really, everybody in Alaska owns a gun," he says, suggesting that an invasion is unlikely.

As world leaders convene to discuss delicate issues affecting the geopolitical landscape, Anchorage finds itself at the center of a debate that transcends borders—where the voices of locals highlight the challenges and hopes tied to the region's turbulent relationship with its northern neighbor.