For most of his quarter-century rule, President Vladimir Putin visited places like Paris, London, Vienna and New York.

Sentiment toward Russia in Alaska has cooled since Putin invaded Ukraine in 2022. The Anchorage Assembly voted unanimously to suspend its three-decade-long sister city relationship with Magadan, Russia, and the Juneau Assembly sent its sister city of Vladivostock a letter expressing concern.

Russian forces moved at least six miles deeper into the Donetsk region in a move that appeared designed to pressure Kyiv