FazTimes Media: A top official from the Kremlin has come up with one of the most unexpected global ideas of the year: building an undersea tunnel that would connect Russia and the United States. The idea, called the “Putin-Trump Tunnel,” is meant to physically and symbolically connect the two countries through a 112-kilometer (70-mile) tunnel that would run under the icy Bering Strait.

Al Jazeera says that Kirill Dmitriev, who is the Kremlin's special envoy for investment and also heads Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, introduced this plan. Dmitriev thinks the project could start a “new era of unity” and open up “joint exploration of resources” between Moscow and Washington. He even suggested that the tunnel could be built with help from Elon Musk’s The Boring Company, which is known for its underground transport projects in the United States.

A Tunnel Between Two Worlds

The proposed tunnel would link Russia’s Chukotka region with Alaska, the two closest points between the two countries, separated by a narrow stretch of icy sea. At its narrowest, the Bering Strait is only 82 kilometers wide, and the distance between the two small Diomede Islands—one belonging to Russia and the other to the U.S.—is just 4 kilometers.

Dmitriev described the project as a “railroad and cargo link” that would allow both goods and people to travel between the continents. He said the aim is not just about trade but about creating a historic connection, “joining the Americas with Afro-Eurasia.”

He posted on social media:

“Let’s build a future together. Imagine connecting the US and Russia—a tunnel that symbolizes unity and cooperation.”

This idea isn’t entirely new. As BBC News reported, a similar plan was discussed decades ago during the Cold War, when a so-called “Kennedy–Khrushchev World Peace Bridge” was suggested as a symbol of hope. Dmitriev’s new idea brings back that dream—with modern engineering and a fresh political message.

Trump found the idea “interesting,” but others had different thoughts. President Donald Trump, who started his second term in office, reportedly said he found the idea intriguing. During a meeting at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump brought up the idea and asked Zelenskyy what he thought. Zelenskyy, as expected, said he wasn’t pleased with the concept, showing the ongoing tension between Ukraine and Russia.

Even though Trump’s reaction was mild, it sparked a lot of global conversation. Many experts see it as another example of Trump being open to big, unusual ideas that could change how the world sees things.

Why the Proposal Matters

At first, this might seem like a crazy idea, but the timing of Dmitriev’s statement shows there’s more to it.

Geopolitical Signaling

Russia has been facing strong sanctions and isolation from the West since the war in Ukraine. Proposing a tunnel project with the US could be a way to change the image from being a country at odds with the West to one that is working together.

The Realities Behind the Dream

While the idea seems exciting, the real challenges are enormous. Engineers and economists around the world have highlighted many problems.

Extreme Conditions:

The Bering Strait area is one of the toughest places on Earth. It has cold, thick ice and frequent earthquakes, which make building anything there really hard.

Astronomical Costs:

Dmitriev thinks the project could cost about 8 billion US dollars, but other studies suggest it might be as high as 60 to 70 billion.

The big gap between these numbers makes people wonder how the money will come together.

Low Trade Potential:

Currently, trade between Russia and the United States is minimal. Even if there was a tunnel, there might not be enough goods or people traveling to make it profitable.

Infrastructure Gaps:

Even if the tunnel were built, both countries would need enormous new systems—like railways, ports, and logistics centers—to make it work.

The areas on either side are far away, have few people, and lack good transportation links.

Historical Echoes and Local Lessons

For many historians, this isn’t the first time such a plan has been dreamed up. The idea of linking continents with tunnels or bridges has been around for over 100 years. Engineers once dreamed of a rail line from Siberia to Alaska that could send goods from London to New York by train.

In the same way, even if the Kremlin’s plan is very unlikely, it makes us think again about what really defines our borders.

Even Elon Musk hasn’t said anything publicly about it. His company, The Boring Company, has made smaller underground tunnels in places like Las Vegas and Los Angeles—but a huge underwater tunnel across the country would be something entirely new.

What Comes Next?

According to Reuters, Russian and American leaders will meet in Budapest soon to talk about working together. The “tunnel idea” might be on the table, but it has already made people think, talk, and imagine new possibilities.

If this plan ever happens, the Bering Strait could become one of the most important routes in the world—connecting Asia, Europe, and North America through one line of steel and concrete. That would change how goods are shipped around the globe forever.

But for now, the “Putin–Trump Tunnel” is more of a dream than a real plan—mixing imagination, diplomacy, and bold thinking.

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