USA already claimed the moon, don't you know that Bush singed a document making Space an US territory. So whats the problem with Russia claiming Arctic ocean.

Pocur, Moscow,

Ed, im pretty certain there is a treaty for the antarctic (the common heritage of mankind), but not the arctic. all 5 countries have to come to an equitable solution to divide up the continental shelf under the arctic. its all in the Law of the Sea conventions. russia can claim what they like, but the other countries will never aquiesce, so the claim will end up in the courts or a tribunal eventually. silly russia.

jonathan, sheffield,

Since nationalism in Russia is on the rise, it was a good PR action, a well-organised show before the upcoming parliament and presidential elections. Now, V. Putin and his team can easily get their candidates elected. In fact, no one is going recognise Russia's sovereignty over the North Pole. Planting a Russian flag on the seabed is not enough to claim Russia's rights there. Frankly speaking, Russia is not in a position to grab this land. Its navy, including the surface force, is on decline, its infrastructure in the North is in tatters. The West will do everything to stop any of Russia's attempts to grab the North Pole. This cock won't fight, Mr. Putin!

Eli, Taipei,

Aby, just looked it up . . . Russia sold Alaska to the US in 1867 for $7.2 million dollars. They tried to sell it to the US about a few years before, but the US was getting into its Civil War. Russia sold it to the US to cut back on its number one rival on the Pacific Ocean, the British Navy.

don, detroit, USA

When I look back at history and see how other colonial countries have become wealthy at the cost of alien riches, I wonder why not Russia now? US has been doing it for decades in the Americas, Pacific Islands, Africa and most notable Alaska. UK did it with Singapore, Hong Kong, Egypt, Iran, Iraq and India, exploiting these countries to the hilt till those country have been sucked dry (at the height of British Empire). Today Russia is doing the same, a different target. At least we should give them credit that they did not invade human territory and enslaved someone. Whatever the Anglo-US analysts might say, no one is going to do anything about this new land grabbing by Russia.

Aby, Samedan, Switzerland

They've played a show. Our govenment can play any games in Russia, but in world this group of thieves can not do anything.

Dr.Nostradamus, Saint-Petersburg, Russia

Well this is just ridiculous. I'm now convinced that Putin has gone bonkers.

marguerite , Los Angeles,

Todsay the arctic, tomorrow the world!!!!

Bruce L. Northwood, Washington, D.C., USA

Anyone with half an interest in geology should try mapmachine.nationalgeographic.com

You can't get from the North Pole to Moscow without crossing a pretty obvious mid-ocean ridge! The plate tectonics are surely messed up around the north pole, but it seems clear that although the north pole _might_ be on the same plate as eastern Siberia and Alaska, it's _not_ on the same plate as western Siberia.

Give it to the Inuit, and then we can all agree to pay them to leave the oil underground, where it belongs.

Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK

Were is your congratulations, gentlemen?

Vladimir, S.Petersnurg, Russia

The north pole region belongs to all nations - It should be the exclusive refuge of all species as the bread basket of the sea. It is wrong for any country to exploit its resources. I thought there was a treaty signed by most nations years ago. What happened?

Ed, Nice, California, USA

Well Done Russian, Artctic is yours !!
with a new moto in place "In Gas we Trust!

Tom, London,

Ah, good old colonial times when all one had to do was hop off a leaky boat, plant a piece of cloth, and claim for your country whatever you think you stepped on. Next Russia will want the patent on a round planet, followed by claims on fire and the wheel.

Where has rational thought gone? On the other hand ,the other bright light in international dealings, China, builds a ship repair station on some submerged rocks thousands of miles from their mainland and claims the ocean and everything in it for themselves. And uses the boat station to berth warships to back up their claim.

I guess we ought to post a proclamation saying that we consider Russia just as rapacious a colonial power as the rest and forgive them in advance for giving up their claims to their colonies.

As for me, I am claiming Ile Saint Louis, Paris.

Tom Mariner, Bayport, NY, USA

No one has done it before, nobody stopped them to do that but why they are worrying so much today?

max, Moscow, Russia

Given this precedent, the USA hereby is entitled to claim the moon.

cvt, Windermere, Cumbria