In a targeted move to facilitate diplomatic preparations for the upcoming Trump–Putin summit in Alaska, the U.S. Treasury Department has authorized a temporary easing of certain sanctions-related restrictions on Russian transactions. The newly issued license allows specific transactions connected to the summit to proceed legally until August 20, 2025, under defined conditions.
The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) issued a general license permitting limited transaction types related to the Summit, effectively lifting some prohibitions that would otherwise apply under existing sanctions regimes. The license expressly does not permit broader unblocking of Russian assets or other unrelated financial activities. Only transactions directly needed for planning or facilitating the summit are covered. The authorization is valid through August 20, 2025.
This temporary licensing is a narrow exception amid a comprehensive sanctions framework targeting Russia’s economy, financial institutions, and export capabilities. Importantly, unrestricted categories—such as freeze orders, asset blocks, and broader economic prohibitions—remain firmly in place. The action reflects a targeted, event-specific relief rather than a rollback of broader sanctions policy.
