Vladimir Putin personally gifted a new motorcycle to an Alaska man after he became a viral sensation in Russian state media for complaining about the rising cost of repairing his Soviet-era bike amid the Ukraine war.
Mark Warren Gets New Bike From Putin
Mark Warren, a retired fire inspector from Anchorage, received the keys to the brand-new Ural motorcycle in the parking lot of a local motel last week from a Russian embassy staffer. The handover came shortly after Putin’s high-profile meeting with President Trump.
“I have to say that this is a personal gift from the President of the Russian Federation,” the embassy employee told Warren in a clip broadcast by Russian state media.
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The Story Behind Putin’s Bike Gift
The unusual series of events began on August 9 when a Russian TV crew, visiting Anchorage ahead of the Putin-Trump summit, stopped Warren while he was running errands on his aging Soviet-era bike. The crew initially admired the motorcycle before asking Warren questions about the upcoming summit and the economic impact of the war in Ukraine.
In the segment, Warren explained that finding spare parts for his bike had become increasingly difficult and expensive because the manufacturing plant is “located in Ukraine.” Russian reporters quickly turned his remarks into a news feature highlighting the broader economic consequences of sanctions and the conflict.
“So for you, if they resolve this conflict here in Alaska, I mean Putin and Trump, it will be good?” one reporter asked.
“Yes, it will be good,” Warren replied.
Mark Warren Receives $22,000 Bike
Days later, Warren told the Anchorage Daily News that he received a call from one of the reporters, who said the clip had gone viral in Russia and even caught the attention of Putin himself. Russian officials then promised him a new bike, which retails for approximately $22,000. Initially skeptical, Warren dismissed the offer as a potential scam, describing the situation as “bats–t crazy.”
Less than 24 hours after the Putin-Trump meeting, Russian embassy officials contacted Warren to arrange a meeting in the motel parking lot where the Kremlin delegation was staying. Footage aired on Russian state media showed Warren hopping onto his new motorcycle and taking it for a spin.
“It’s night and day,” Warren said in the clip. “I like my old one, but this one is obviously much better.”
“I’m speechless, it’s amazing. Thank you very much.”
Ural Motorcycles
Ural’s original factory was founded in 1941 in Soviet Russia, though it is now headquartered in Washington state. The company, which assembles all motorcycles in Kazakhstan, confirmed that it had moved production out of Russia after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
While Russian media framed the gift as a gesture of goodwill toward Americans, Warren insisted he was not being used for propaganda purposes. “They’re getting nothing from me,” he said. “Nothing.”
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Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
