At the American military base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage (Alaska) On August 15-16, 2025, Russian-American high-level talks were held with the participation of Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and US President Donald Trump.
After the talks, the Russian President laid flowers at the graves of Soviet soldiers at the Fort Richardson cemetery, located on the territory of the Elmendorf-Richardson military base. Kremlin.ru .
There are 14 graves of Soviet citizens on the site "Allies during the Second World War". The names and military ranks of 11 servicemen have been identified: nine pilots who participated in the Alaska—Siberia airlift and two sailors who were in the United States to receive lend-Lease ships. One grave remains unknown, and two more are considered civilian graves.
The Russian Head of State also had a conversation with Archbishop Alexy of Sitka and Alaska, hierarch of the Orthodox Church in America. The Russian President presented the hierarch with an icon of St. Herman of Alaska, the patron saint of America, and an icon of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
"I want to convey to you the best wishes from His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia. We met before my trip here. He told me himself about how the Orthodox Church was born here. He told me that he had been here too, holding a service. He spoke about you with great warmth," said Vladimir Putin.
Archbishop Alexy thanked the President of Russia and also presented him with an icon of St. Herman of Alaska, which was painted on Mount Athos. "This is an icon that was given to me as a gift when I was ordained bishop of the Holy Mountain. For four years, she has been in my corner, where I pray, and I would like to give her to you in order to express my gratitude to the indigenous people of Alaska, the leader of the country that once sent missionaries here. Because Russia has given us what we are most grateful for, something most valuable - the Orthodox faith," said the bishop.
Vladyka Alexy said that he tries to visit Russia every year. "For me, as well as for my priesthood, it is always a great gift for seminarians. Every time they find themselves there (in Russia), they say — we are at home," he added.
Vladimir Putin called the hierarch a welcome guest, noting that whenever he arrives, he can feel at home in Russia. 
In addition, Vladimir Putin had a brief conversation with Dwayne Mandenhall, director of the Fort Richardson National Cemetery, and thanked him for preserving and treating the memory of Soviet soldiers with kindness.