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Russia claimed Friday that initial discussions have begun between Moscow and Washington on constructing a railway tunnel under the Bering Strait to connect the two countries.
Russian Presidential Envoy for Economic Affairs Kirill Dmitriev, who also heads the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), announced the talks in a post on X, saying: “Discussions on the tunnel begin.”
The proposed tunnel would link Russia and the United States via the Bering Strait, serving as a transcontinental railway connection. Dmitriev said the project could be completed in less than eight years and cost under $8 billion, citing potential use of technologies developed by American entrepreneur Elon Musk’s company, The Boring Company.
He noted that this figure is “significantly lower” than earlier projections estimating construction at around $65 billion.
Dmitriev referred to the project as the “Putin-Trump Tunnel,” highlighting its potential for “joint resource development, job creation, and economic growth.”
He added that the RDIF already has experience in developing cross-border railway infrastructure, including bridges between Russia and China.
U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the project during his meeting with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy at the White House on Friday, calling the idea of a tunnel connecting Russia and the U.S. “interesting.”
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