Putin Decree Stokes Fears of Russian Territorial Ambitions
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Putin signed a decree to allocate funds to search, register, and protect Russian property abroad, including former Russian Empire and Soviet territories.
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The decree is vague on what constitutes Russian property, but could destabilize neighboring countries.
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A prominent military blogger suggested starting territorial disputes with Alaska, Ukraine, Poland, and former Soviet states.
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Putin has downplayed the 1867 sale of Alaska before, but allies suggest revisiting it.
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The decree shows the deep revanchist sentiment among Russian ultranationalists who criticize Putin for not achieving maximalist war goals against Ukraine.