Mrs Podicenko’s hope is echoed by several of the 1,000 Ukrainian refugees who fled to Alaska since 2022 with the help of New Chance, a Russian-language church. Mrs Podicenko moved to Alaska with her friend Olena Demchenko, and her two children, Aleksander, 15, and Sofia, seven. She now works in a care home in Anchorage.

When U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet in Alaska on Friday, it will be the latest chapter in the 49th state’s long history with Russia — and with international tensions.

Key Points and Summary: President Donald Trump’s upcoming “feel-out” meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska is a pivotal moment for the war in Ukraine. -The talks carry high risks, with the possibility of a “peace deal” that could legitimize Russia’s territorial gains and embolden future aggression.