Russia offered to sell Alaska to the United States for several reasons. The most significant reason was Russia's belief that the territory was not worth continuing to own. Russia did not see any significant economic or strategic value in Alaska and thus saw little reason to keep it. Additionally, Russia could not afford to secure the territory's natural resources, such as fur and timber, which were being depleted. The cost of protecting the remote territory from foreign invasion was also a concern for Russia, as the territory was vulnerable to attacks from other countries. Finally, Russia may have been worried that if it did not sell Alaska to the United States, the United States might seize it. Overall, the combination of these factors led Russia to offer Alaska to the United States for sale.