Alaska in the Kremlin's crosshairs. The White House is in favor, residents are against

According to The New York Times, Novatek may have secretly financed Polar LNG, which plans to produce and export liquefied natural gas from Alaska. The project was discussed during contacts between the Trump administration and the Kremlin. Former Polar LNG CEO Joel Riddle revealed concerns about potential sanctions violations and indicated that Novatek's involvement could undermine U.S. interests. A meeting in Abu Dhabi involved discussions about financing the project, with Novatek reportedly offering $15 million. Riddle and other executives left the company after raising concerns about Russian funding. The project faces regulatory hurdles due to sanctions against Novatek and local opposition in Alaska.