The Russian move comes after Donald Trump opens up for trade between the countries to resume if the war in Ukraine ends, writes Financial Times.

“Imagine connecting the US and Russia, America and Afro-Eurasia with the Putin-Trump tunnel – a 112-kilometer link symbolizing unity,” writes Kirill Dmitriev, head of Russia’s state investment fund on X.

The article in brief

Russia wants to build a tunnel to Alaska – dubbed the “Putin-Trump Tunnel”.

Elon Musk is proposed to lead the project.

The proposal comes after talks between Trump and Putin.

The tunnel would be twice as long as the Channel Tunnel between England and France.

Kirill Dmitriev suggests that Elon Musk and his company The Boring Company build the underground tunnel. He believes that with Musk's company and its technology, the costs would be reduced from $65 billion to under $8 billion.

– Let's build a future together, he also writes on X.

Putin's phone call to Trump

Hours before the proposal had Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin had their first conversation since August. According to the American president, the two spent a large part of the conversation discussing possible trade between the countries.

During the conversation, it was also decided that Putin and Trump will meet in Budapest, Hungary in a couple of weeks.

According to Kirill Dmitriev, American companies have lost $342 billion by withdrawing from Russia.

Trump: “Exciting”

The 112-kilometer tunnel would be more than twice as long as the Channel Tunnel between England and France.

However, building the tunnel would be difficult due to the lack of infrastructure in the Bering Strait between Alaska, USA, and Russia. The area has also experienced increased seismic activity (earthquakes and other types of ground movements).

Elon Musk or The Boring Company have not commented on the move.

On Friday, Donald Trump was asked about the idea at his press conference with Zelensky, and said it was"interesting."

The American president also took the opportunity to ask what Zelensky thought about the proposal.

“I don't like it,” he says.