In the Vologda region, they told about the historical connection between the city of Totma and Alaska

The city of Totma in the Vologda region has historical ties with Alaska: it was there that the employee Ivan Kuskov was born, who founded Fort Ross fortress in California in 1812 to supply Alaskans with food. Anatoly Pakhnin, head of the Museum of Sailors of the Totem Museum Association, told Izvestia about this on August 10 on the eve of the summit of the leaders of Russia and the United States, which will be held in the northernmost American state.

"The Aleutian Islands, named after the inhabitants of those islands, the Aleuts, were settled before 1799, literally in 56 years. During this period, more than 100 expeditions were equipped, 38 of them with the participation of the Totmichi. This fishing ended with the formation of a Russian-American monopoly company, and the development of Alaska has already taken place with the support of the state," explained Pakhnin.

Russian Russian fortress Fort Ross in northern California has become the southernmost settlement of Russians on the American continent.

"But by 1841, due to unprofitability, this fortress was sold to a private individual, John Sutter. And by 1867, Alaska and the Aleutian Islands were sold to the United States, leaving only two Commander Islands for Russia," the expert added.

According to Alexey Novoselov, director of the Totem Museum Association, Ivan Kuskov was a philistine. By the age of 16, the young man had managed to accumulate substantial debts, and therefore he was forced to go first to Irkutsk and then to Alaska.

"Later, he became the right-hand man of the main ruler of the Russian colony in Alaska, Alexander Andreevich Baranov. 35 years ago, the house where Kuskov lived with his American wife after returning from Alaska, California, was restored and opened. His bust was placed next to it, that is, a corner dedicated to Russian America began to be formed, just at the peak of our relations with the United States," Novoselov noted.

Point of return: what to expect from the summit of the Presidents of Russia and the United States in Alaska

European officials are in turmoil after news of the August 15 meeting.

Residents of Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, told a Izvestia correspondent on August 10 that Alaska's connection to Russia and the United States makes the state a good place for a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and American leader Donald Trump. In addition, Alaska is home to many Russian-speaking people. There is a Russian church in Anchorage.

On August 8, Trump announced a meeting with Putin in Alaska on August 15. The US president noted that details about the upcoming negotiations will be published later. Russian Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov called the choice of a venue for negotiations logical. He said that the economic interests of the states intersect in the region. There are prospects for joint projects in Alaska.

The leader of the United States also expressed confidence in the possibility of signing a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine in the coming months. Commenting on this issue, Trump stated the need for territorial concessions from both sides.

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