Aug. 13—Sergei Gavrilov, a Communist Party member of the Russian State Duma, and the head of its Committee on Property, Land, and Property Relations, told RIA Novosti on Aug. 11, that the upcoming Alaska summit talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, could address significant Arctic economic projects. While the Ukrainian issue is the primary agenda, global economic cooperation in the Arctic is also expected to be discussed.

Gavrilov, a member of the National Financial Council of the Bank of Russia, highlighted that the talks could address long-term economic interests, such as joint mechanisms for Arctic route development, investment in port and transport infrastructure, and increasing cargo flow to boost trade between Russia and the U.S. Key projects include enhancing the Northern Sea Route and modernizing navigation infrastructure.

The legislator singled out one particular possible project: a transport corridor across the Bering Strait, which could facilitate resource development and economic growth.

A flagship infrastructure project, like a Russia-U.S. transport link, could symbolize broader international cooperation in the Arctic and Pacific regions.

Gavrilov suggested that the billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets in the U.S. could theoretically be used to co-finance infrastructure projects, stimulating economic ties and attracting private capital participation.