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yesterday

Putin Gifts New Ural Motorcycle to Alaska Man After Summit Encounter

The filmed handoff on Russian state TV turned a viral street interview into a sanctions‑themed soft‑power message.

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Alaska resident Mark Warren poses with a new Ural motorcycle he received as a gift from the Russian government in Anchorage, Alaska, Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, after Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to the state for a summit meeting with U.S. President Trump.
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Overview

  • Russian Embassy counselor Andrei Ledenev delivered the keys to Anchorage resident Mark Warren in a hotel parking lot, calling it a personal gift from the Russian president.
  • Footage showed Warren taking the sidecar-equipped Ural for a short ride with diplomats; paperwork indicated an Aug. 12 manufacture date and reports put the bike’s value near $22,000.
  • The episode began when a Russia‑1 crew stopped Warren on Aug. 9, and his remarks about struggling to find parts went viral in Russia ahead of the Aug. 15 Alaska summit.
  • Ural says it is headquartered in Washington state and now assembles motorcycles in Kazakhstan after moving production out of Russia in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine.
  • Warren said he accepted the motorcycle but would not provide anything in return, with coverage noting mixed reactions and no reported legal or diplomatic repercussions.