Analysts noted Alaska was once part of the Russian Empire, and some nationalists believe it should be returned.

Location matters, former real estate mogul US President Donald Trump said. Moments later he announced Alaska, a place sold by Russia to the United States 158 years ago for $7.2 million, would be where Russian President Vladimir Putin tries to sell his land deal of the century,

Trump’s announcement came as a surprise to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who responded in a video posted Saturday morning with an emphatic refusal to cede any Ukrainian territory to Russia.