US gas talks with Kremlin reveal Alaska project financing
The gist
Former Polar LNG CEO Joel Riddle said Russian energy firm Novatek secretly funded its Alaska gas terminal.
The claim lands as Washington and Moscow weigh sanctions relief in Ukraine talks.
How it unfolded
- Feb 2026The New York Times reported that Gentry Beach, a college friend of Donald Trump Jr., announced an agreement with Novatek on an Alaska gas project.
- Mar 2026Polar Train LNG launched its plan to develop a gas export terminal in northern Alaska, using a partially constructed Novatek terminal relocated to Alaska.
- Apr 2026Novatek signed a memorandum with Polar Train while Riddle was still running the company.