

Alaska's Sitka Sound. Still American. (AP)

In his annual Q&A with the Russian people, Vladimir Putin was asked if there were any plans to annex Alaska. The Russian president said he was aware of the joke calling the 49th state "Ice Crimea."

But the deal under which the United States bought Alaska for $7.2 million in 1867 doesn't seem to be in danger. Putin answered:

Russia is a northern country with 70% of its territory located in the north and the far north. Alaska is not located in the southern hemisphere, either, is it? It’s cold out there as well. Let's not get worked up about it, all right? ... We'll have to pay them allowances to live in the north. We need to calculate our budget expenses.

Also read: Snowden asks Putin if Russia spies on its citizens.

Here's a reality check on his answer.

And he answered whether he thought Obama would save him from drowning.