"Putin is meant to be imprisoned, yet he casually arrives in Alaska."
Hanna Correa stands amidst a throng of Alaskans displaying Ukrainian flags on the route into Anchorage.
"When I walked into that parking lot and saw many Americans cheering, it brought tears to my eyes," she says.
Ms. Correa, 40, departed Ukraine in 2019 for romance, and six years later, her adopted hometown could play a role in determining her country's future.
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to arrive at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, located a 30-minute drive from there. Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensk, is excluded, which Ms. Correa describes as "quite unfortunate."
Among the individuals opposing their presence is Christopher Kelliher, a 53-year-old veteran and native Alaskan.
"It’s disgusting; it makes you feel like you need to shower," he says about the meeting.
The historical ties of this region with Moscow enhance the importance of Friday's summit. In 1867, the US acquired Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million.
Critics labeled the acquisition "Seward's Folly" – named after William Seward, the US secretary of state then – claiming that the area was merely a frozen wasteland. However, subsequent findings of rare earth minerals and plentiful oil and gas dispelled that designation.
Decorative churches rank among the most prominent representations of Alaska's Russian legacy. The St Tikhon Orthodox Church in Anchorage has organized three days of prayer in anticipation of the leaders' arrival.
Priest Nicholas Cragle, an American who recently relocated to Alaska after spending seven years in Russia, expresses that the conflict is "especially painful and dear to the hearts" of the congregation.
"We're optimistic that this meeting will result in something... bring this conflict to a resolution," states Mr Cagle
Fishermen standing in the shallow creek bed on the town's edge share that sentiment, enticed by the promise of some of the finest salmon in the world.
"I believe the summit is a positive idea, and I wish Zelensky were here as well... let’s wrap this up," says Don Cressley, a resident of North Pole, Alaska, on a fishing trip with his grandson.
He seeks a conclusion to the conflict "due to the devastation they’re causing in all the cities, all the structures, increasing homelessness, depriving people of their food, their resources, their way of living."
Donald Trump, he claims, is performing an "incredible job" in ceasefire discussions.
Although the US president frequently speaks fondly of his connection with Vladimir Putin, tensions between the superpowers continue and are felt more acutely in this context.
Military aircraft from Moscow are frequently spotted flying close to Alaska's coastline. In January, Canadian and American fighter jets were dispatched after several Russian jets were seen in the Arctic, as reported by the North American Aerospace Defence Command.
This creates a feeling of discomfort for certain Alaskans residing nearer to Russia than to Washington, DC.
"Even though the Cold War has ended between Russia and the US, they are consistently monitoring our airspace," Anchorage local Russell Wilson says to me while fishing.
"If the president doesn't take decisive action, we might end up like Ukraine."
Nevertheless, other Alaskans view a return to Cold War tensions as an improbable illusion.
I inquire of Army veteran Christopher Kelliher whether he is worried about a Russian invasion. "Not at all, everyone in Alaska has a firearm," he responded
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