Doha: The US Treasury Department issued a license temporarily suspending some sanctions imposed on Russia, in preparation for the upcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.

According to Qatar News Agency, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) stated that “all transactions… that are customary and necessary for attending or facilitating meetings in the state of Alaska between the US government and the government of the Russian Federation are permitted until 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on August 20, 2025.”

The United States has imposed broad sanctions on Russian officials and companies for years, particularly due to the war in Ukraine. These measures could have hindered travel to Alaska for those involved in the talks.

The Department clarified that these measures do not include the release of any frozen assets and did not specify the individuals or entities covered by the exemption.