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 Vladivostok a letter expressing concern.

Whether the U.S.-Russia summit can lead to a deal to produce peace in Ukraine more than 3 1/2 years after Moscow’s invasion remains to be seen.

North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of the latter’s summit in Alaska this week. Putin, who will meet with President Donald Trump on Friday in Anchorage to discuss paths to peace,