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.

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson is a prime midway rest stop for dignitaries on the route from Washington to eastern Asia.

European leaders held a high-stakes meeting Wednesday with President Trump, Vice President Vance, Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy and NATO's chief ahead of Friday's U.S.-Russia summit.