The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, joked about Alaska during a conversation with CNN correspondent Fredkrik Pleitgen about the situation in Ukraine. This happened on June 15 during a briefing at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
The journalist asked Zakharova if the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin about Peter I and the return of Russian lands were not a violation of international law. In response, the diplomat recalled the precedents in Kosovo, the US invasion of Iraq and the illegal entry of US troops into Syria.
“Ask the [US] State Department about it with the same pathos,” she said.
Zakharova also pointed out that the Western media did not pay attention to the events taking place in the Donbass for eight years.
“I finally understand why the CNN rep is so worried. I couldn’t understand anything about historical lands. Are you talking about Alaska, or what? she mocked.
On June 9, the Russian leader compared the current era with the times of Peter I. According to him, it fell to the lot of modern Russia to “return and strengthen”, as happened during the reign of Peter the Great. Putin stressed that during the Northern War, Peter I did not take anything away from Sweden, but returned the original Russian lands. Thus, the head of state said that the place where St. Petersburg was founded, from time immemorial, Slavs lived along with the Finno-Ugric peoples, and the territory was under the control of the Russian state.
On June 2, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Putin highly appreciates the role of Peter I in the history of the state. Peskov also pointed out that Putin is a deep connoisseur of history, and Peter I has a number of merits, like many other leaders of the Russian state throughout history.
Alaska was part of Russia until 1867, after which it was sold to the United States as a result of a deal between the countries.