Trump Reportedly Offering Putin Natural Resources Off Alaska Sparks Fury [View all]

Source: Newsweek

Published Aug 14, 2025 at 6:52 AM EDT Updated Aug 14, 2025 at 7:52 AM EDT


A report that President Donald Trump is preparing to offer Russian President Vladimir Putin economic incentives to encourage him to end the war in Ukraine—including opening up access to natural resources off Alaska's coast—has sparked anger online. The Daily Telegraph reported that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is exploring the economic trade-offs the U.S. can make with Russia in order to facilitate a ceasefire and peace agreement.

These include giving Putin access to the rare earth minerals in the Ukrainian territories Moscow partially occupies, as well as opportunities to tap into the natural resources in the Bering Strait between Alaska and Russia's eastern coast.

There has been no confirmation that such a proposal is on the table, and Newsweek has contacted the White House and the office of Alaska's governor for comment. The Telegraph cited a White House statement that it did not comment "on deliberative conversations that may or may not be happening."

But social media users have responded with anger at the prospect of opening up Alaska's natural resources to Russian interests, including Trump critic and former GOP representative Adam Kinzinger who posted on X: "Let's see republicans defend this."

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/alaska-russia-trump-resources-2113295

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