Kremlin Envoy Proposes 'Trump–Putin Tunnel' Linking US, Russia

Last Updated:October 18, 2025, 16:35 IST

Kirill Dmitriev proposed a Putin-Trump Tunnel under the Bering Strait to link the US and Russia, costing 8 billion dollars and symbolizing unity.

The two leaders spoke for nearly two and a half hours on Thursday. (Image: AP Image)

In an apparent charm offensive, a Kremlin envoy proposed to build a ‘Trump–Putin Tunnel’ to connect the United States and Russia via the Bering Strait, and to jointly explore natural resources in the region.

The proposal, put forth by Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy and head of Russia’s RDIF sovereign wealth fund, Kirill Dmitriev, envisages a construction project costing $8 billion, funded by Moscow and “international partners", to build a 70-mile (112-km) rail and cargo link in under eight years.

According to Dmitriev, a 112-kilometre-long rail and cargo link across the Bering Strait can be built, and Elon Musk’s The Boring Company could complete the project within eight years at a cost of $8 billion.

“The dream of a US–Russia link via the Bering Strait reflects an enduring vision — from the 1904 Siberia–Alaska railway to Russia’s 2007 plan. RDIF has studied existing proposals, including the US–Canada–Russia–China railroad, and will support the most viable," Dmitriev said in a post on X.

Dmitriev said a plan for a “Kennedy-Khrushchev World Peace Bridge" over the strait had been floated during the Cold War. He posted a sketch from that era of the route it might have taken, with a graphic showing the route the new tunnel could take.

“RDIF has already invested in and built the first ever Russia-China railroad bridge. The time has come to do more and connect the Continents for the first time in human history. The time has come to connect Russia and the US," Dmitriev said.

Dmitriev’s proposal came after Putin and Trump held a telephonic conversation and agreed to meet in Budapest to seek a way to stop the war in Ukraine. During his second term, Trump has repeatedly stated his desire to reset US–Russia relations and transform Russia into a political and economic ally. He has suggested that the two nations should collaborate in extracting natural resources such as oil and gas.

Trump, who has promised to “drill, baby drill" during his second term, told reporters on Friday that he thought the proposal was “interesting" during a White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

During their meeting, Trump turned to Zelenskyy, asking for his thoughts on the tunnel. The Ukrainian leader responded that he was “not happy with this idea".

The Bering Strait, 51 miles (82 km) wide at its narrowest point, separates Russia’s vast and sparsely populated Chukotka region from Alaska. Ideas to link them have been around for at least 150 years. The small Diomede islands, one Russian and one belonging to the US, sit in the middle of the strait, only 2.4 miles (4 km) apart.

For over 150 years, proposals to link the two sides have surfaced, but construction challenges and doubts over the practicality of such a connection have prevented any from materialising.

(With inputs from agencies)

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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