Latest news with #FyodorLukyanov
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Alaska: A symbol of Russian imperial nostalgia and territorial longing
MOSCOW, Aug 14 — Alaska, the US state that will host the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on Friday, is a source of imperial nostalgia and often less-than-serious territorial claims in Russia. The territory that Russia sold to the United States in 1867 is now a symbol of the entwined history of the countries, whose relations have been severely damaged since Russia launched its offensive in Ukraine in 2022. To some experts, the summit in Alaska evoked memories of the thaw between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War. 'It's a classically orchestrated summit, like in the era of detente,' Russian political scientist Fyodor Lukyanov said on Telegram. 'Its symbolic significance is the absence of intermediaries: the powers, so to speak, decide for themselves,' he added, saying that China is 'not close' to Alaska and that Europe is 'as far away as possible'. Fur trading hub But beyond being a unique meeting place, Alaska also fuels Russian memories of the Tsarist empire, the historic predecessor of the Soviet Union. 'For Russia, Alaska symbolises the peak of an expansion,' Alexander Baunov, senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said on the centre's website. It was 'when the Russian continental empire had, for the only time, succeeded in crossing an ocean like the European empires', Baunov said. A Russian colony since the 18th century, Alaska was eventually sold to the United States for US$7.2 million in 1867 by Tsar Alexander II. The remote territory was economically very difficult for the Russians to exploit and at the time its sale was welcomed by the Imperial Court as the country was struggling economically. But the transaction later came to be seen as a regrettable bargain after what formerly was a fur trading hub turned out to house crucial natural resources: gold and oil. A view of an entrance to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska on August 13, 2025. — AFP pic 'Our bears' In recent years, the price at which Alaska was sold, considered by some to be ridiculously low, and the legal validity of the transaction have become regularly recurring debates in Russia. In July 2022, in the midst of patriotic fervour in Russia and as tensions soared between Moscow and Washington following the offensive against Ukraine, the Alaska issue resurfaced. The speaker of the Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, spoke of 'lands to be returned', describing Alaska as a 'disputed territory'. Russia's authorities are apparently not interested in reclaiming it. In 2014, Vladimir Putin, asked by a pensioner about the possibility, replied: 'My dear, why do you need Alaska?' adding the territory was 'too cold'. Still, the idea of reclaiming Alaska is an endless source of memes widely circulating on Russian social media. One of the most famous claims that 'our soul' suffered from the loss of Alaska because 'it's where our bears live'. The recapture of Alaska is even mentioned in a 1990s hit by a rock band Putin likes, Lyube, with the lyrics: 'Stop messing around, America... And give back our Alaskan lands.' — AFP
France 24
2 days ago
- Business
- France 24
Alaska: a source of Russian imperial nostalgia
The territory that Russia sold to the United States in 1867 is now a symbol of the entwined history of the countries, whose relations have been severely damaged since Russia launched its offensive in Ukraine in 2022. To some experts, the summit in Alaska evoked memories of the thaw between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War. "It's a classically orchestrated summit, like in the era of detente," Russian political scientist Fyodor Lukyanov said on Telegram. "Its symbolic significance is the absence of intermediaries: the powers, so to speak, decide for themselves," he added, saying that China is "not close" to Alaska and that Europe is "as far away as possible". Fur trading hub But beyond being a unique meeting place, Alaska also fuels Russian memories of the Tsarist empire, the historic predecessor of the Soviet Union. "For Russia, Alaska symbolises the peak of an expansion," Alexander Baunov, senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said on the centre's website. It was "when the Russian continental empire had, for the only time, succeeded in crossing an ocean like the European empires", Baunov said. A Russian colony since the 18th century, Alaska was eventually sold to the United States for $7.2 million in 1867 by Tsar Alexander II. The remote territory was economically very difficult for the Russians to exploit and at the time its sale was welcomed by the Imperial Court as the country was struggling economically. But the transaction later came to be seen as a regrettable bargain after what formerly was a fur trading hub turned out to house crucial natural resources: gold and oil. 'Our bears' In recent years, the price at which Alaska was sold, considered by some to be ridiculously low, and the legal validity of the transaction have become regularly recurring debates in Russia. In July 2022, in the midst of patriotic fervour in Russia and as tensions soared between Moscow and Washington following the offensive against Ukraine, the Alaska issue resurfaced. The speaker of the Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, spoke of "lands to be returned", describing Alaska as a "disputed territory". Russia's authorities are apparently not interested in reclaiming it. In 2014, Vladimir Putin, asked by a pensioner about the possibility, replied: "My dear, why do you need Alaska?" adding the territory was "too cold". Still, the idea of reclaiming Alaska is an endless source of memes widely circulating on Russian social media. One of the most famous claims that "our soul" suffered from the loss of Alaska because "it's where our bears live". The recapture of Alaska is even mentioned in a 1990s hit by a rock band Putin likes, Lyube, with the lyrics: "Stop messing around, America... And give back our Alaskan lands." © 2025 AFP
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Alaska: a source of Russian imperial nostalgia
Alaska, the US state that will host the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump on Friday, is a source of imperial nostalgia and often less-than-serious territorial claims in Russia. The territory that Russia sold to the United States in 1867 is now a symbol of the entwined history of the countries, whose relations have been severely damaged since Russia launched its offensive in Ukraine in 2022. To some experts, the summit in Alaska evoked memories of the thaw between the Soviet Union and the United States during the Cold War. "It's a classically orchestrated summit, like in the era of detente," Russian political scientist Fyodor Lukyanov said on Telegram. "Its symbolic significance is the absence of intermediaries: the powers, so to speak, decide for themselves," he added, saying that China is "not close" to Alaska and that Europe is "as far away as possible". - Fur trading hub - But beyond being a unique meeting place, Alaska also fuels Russian memories of the Tsarist empire, the historic predecessor of the Soviet Union. "For Russia, Alaska symbolises the peak of an expansion," Alexander Baunov, senior fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, said on the centre's website. It was "when the Russian continental empire had, for the only time, succeeded in crossing an ocean like the European empires", Baunov said. A Russian colony since the 18th century, Alaska was eventually sold to the United States for $7.2 million in 1867 by Tsar Alexander II. The remote territory was economically very difficult for the Russians to exploit and at the time its sale was welcomed by the Imperial Court as the country was struggling economically. But the transaction later came to be seen as a regrettable bargain after what formerly was a fur trading hub turned out to house crucial natural resources: gold and oil. - 'Our bears' - In recent years, the price at which Alaska was sold, considered by some to be ridiculously low, and the legal validity of the transaction have become regularly recurring debates in Russia. In July 2022, in the midst of patriotic fervour in Russia and as tensions soared between Moscow and Washington following the offensive against Ukraine, the Alaska issue resurfaced. The speaker of the Duma, the lower house of the Russian Parliament, Vyacheslav Volodin, spoke of "lands to be returned", describing Alaska as a "disputed territory". Russia's authorities are apparently not interested in reclaiming it. In 2014, Vladimir Putin, asked by a pensioner about the possibility, replied: "My dear, why do you need Alaska?" adding the territory was "too cold". Still, the idea of reclaiming Alaska is an endless source of memes widely circulating on Russian social media. One of the most famous claims that "our soul" suffered from the loss of Alaska because "it's where our bears live". The recapture of Alaska is even mentioned in a 1990s hit by a rock band Putin likes, Lyube, with the lyrics: "Stop messing around, America... And give back our Alaskan lands."
Russia Today
30-07-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
BRICS offers global alternative to Western monopoly
BRICS is emerging as a strategic alternative to the unraveling Western-led global order, experts said at the 3rd Russian-African Conference held on Monday in Pretoria, South Africa. Speaking to RT, foreign policy analyst Sanusha Naidu described BRICS as part of a growing 'ecosystem' that countries are turning to amid rising uncertainty. 'When you enter into a very kind of unpredictable global architecture, countries look to see how they hedge their bets,' she said. 'The way the international system was compiled and the BRICS provide that kind of ecosystem for them to think about,' the analyst added. Fyodor Lukyanov, research director of the Valdai Discussion Club, noted that the rise of the Global South is altering the world's power dynamics – regardless of Western preferences. 'The fact that more countries joined BRICS as members or partner states, and all those countries are from the Global South, shows that the new environment emerges in the world, environment which is not anti-Western, but which can give alternative to the Western monopoly,' he said. BRICS was established in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, with South Africa joining in 2010. Over the past year, the group has extended full membership to Iran, Egypt, Ethiopia, the United Arab Emirates, and Indonesia. The bloc's partner countries include Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Uganda, and Uzbekistan. According to Steven Gruzd, head of the African Governance and Diplomacy Programme at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), demand remains strong for even more nations to join BRICS. 'There are apparently up to 40 countries who wanted to join' when South Africa chaired in 2023, he said, adding that the BRICS 'brand is doing well' and offers tangible benefits to new members. 'There certainly is a lot of interest in BRICS,' he noted. The 3rd Russian-African Conference, titled 'Realpolitik in a Divided World: Rethinking Russia-South Africa Ties in a Global and African Context', was held in Pretoria on Monday by the Valdai Discussion Club in partnership with the SAIIA.
Rudaw Net
08-02-2025
- Politics
- Rudaw Net
Damascus has no problem with Kurds: Analyst
Also in Syria 4 arrested in Afrin for raising Kurdistan flag 270,000 Syrian refugees return home: UNHCR USAID suspension worsens conditions in Rojava camps: Watchdog SDF could be 'significant asset' for Syrian army: Brigade spokesperson A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Kurds and the new Syrian administration have very different aspirations for the country, but the biggest threat for Kurds comes from Ankara, not Damascus, a Russian analyst said. 'I don't believe that Damascus will want to control the Kurds by force. Damascus is not in that position. The Kurds, as I correctly understand, have no issues with Damascus,' Fyodor Lukyanov, research director of the Valdai Discussion Club and chairman of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, told Rudaw's Kamiz Shadadi on Thursday. Many Syrians and foreign powers are worried that the new government may impose strict Islamic rule and threaten minority groups such as Kurds, Druze, Christians, and Alawites. The Kurdish-controlled northeast and the Druze in the south of Syria, therefore, have remained adamant about their vision of federalism and decentralization, despite the new Islamist authorities in Damascus vehemently rejecting the prospect - at times labeling it a 'red line.' Last week, SDF chief Mazloum Abdi told the Associated Press that their vision for Syria is a 'decentralized, secular, and civil country based on democracy that preserves the rights of all its components.' Abdi stressed that the Kurds want to remain in Syria as part of a united country. Damascus wants to bring the northeast under its control through negotiation. 'We are not inclined toward a military solution,' Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra told the Washington Post last week. Kurds in Syria have bigger issues with Ankara, according to Lukyanov. 'How Turkey will act, what goals it will set for itself, that will be the determining factor,' he said. Ankara claims that the People's Protection Units (YPG) - the backbone of the US-backed and Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - is the Syrian front for the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a designated terrorist group in Turkey. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan last week ruled out federalism in Syria and said Damascus will either expel PKK members from the country or 'eliminate them.'
