According to multiple outlets, a Russian investment envoy pitched the idea of constructing a “Putin-Trump” rail tunnel under the Bering Strait to connect the two countries. CNBC reports the envoy proposed that Elon Musk and The Boring Company take on the project. The outlet added that President Trump said the idea was “interesting” and he would think about it. JUST IN – Kirill Dmitriev, Putin's investment envoy and head of Russia's RDIF sovereign wealth fund, proposes $8B "Putin-Trump tunnel," built by Elon Musk, to link Russia and U.S. — Reuters pic.twitter.com/Grx6qbiL6n — Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) October 17, 2025 USA TODAY shared: The proposal by Kirill Dmitriev, President Vladimir Putin’s investment envoy and head of Russia’s RDIF sovereign wealth fund, envisages a construction project costing $8 billion funded by Moscow and “international partners” to build a 70-mile rail and cargo link in under eight years. Dmitriev, who has helped spearhead a Russian charm offensive designed to revive U.S.-Russia ties, floated the tunnel idea late on Thursday, Oct. 16, after Putin spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump by phone and agreed to meet in Budapest to try to find a way to stop the war in Ukraine. “The dream of a US–Russia link via the Bering Strait reflects an enduring vision — from the 1904 Siberia–Alaska railway to Russia’s 2007 plan. RDIF has studied existing proposals, including the US–Canada–Russia–China railroad, and will support the most viable,” Dmitriev wrote on X. The Bering Strait, which is 51 miles wide at its narrowest point, separates Russia’s Chukotka region from Alaska. Ideas to link the two points have been around for at least 150 years, with various projects drawn up but never implemented. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he’s “not happy” about the idea. Footage below: BREAKING: President Trump says he finds the idea of a Putin–Trump tunnel between Russia and Alaska proposed yesterday “interesting.” Zelensky is “not happy with this idea.” The tunnel discussions begin! https://t.co/boCVb8xqjl pic.twitter.com/Gl4YXEc7Sh — Kirill Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) October 17, 2025 CNBC has more: A tunnel like this would traditionally cost an estimated $65 billion to build, said Dmitriev, who is head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, adding that The Boring Company and its technology could potentially reduce those costs to $8 billion and complete the project within eight years. “Let’s build a future together!” he wrote. Dmitriev’s suggestion followed a call between Putin and Trump on Thursday, during which plans were made to discuss possible resolutions to the Ukraine War. Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other high-level advisors will meet next week with a Russian delegation before Trump and Putin meet in Budapest, Hungary, at a future date. Musk did not respond to a request for comment about the proposal. Construction of an undersea tunnel in the Bering Strait would require Musk’s Boring Company to work through below-freezing temperatures in a region without existing infrastructure and with deep and frequent earthquakes. The Boring Company has no track record of working through such conditions. Its previous tunneling efforts were completed in hot, dry locations with plenty of infrastructure and services nearby.