Sanctions Paused for Secret Alaska Russia Rendezvous
Published Date: 12/12/2025
Rule
Summary
The U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) published General License 125, allowing certain transactions that are usually banned under Russia-related sanctions to support official U.S.-Russia meetings in Alaska. This special permission started on August 13, 2025, and lasts until August 20, 2025. It helps government officials meet without breaking sanctions, but doesn’t allow releasing blocked property or other forbidden actions.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
One-week OK to Support U.S.–Russia Meetings
OFAC issued General License 125 on August 13, 2025 authorizing transactions ‘‘ordinarily incident and necessary’’ to attendance at or support of meetings in the State of Alaska between the U.S. Government and the Russian Federation. The authorization runs through 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on August 20, 2025 and applies to transactions otherwise prohibited by 31 CFR part 587 (RuHSR) or part 589 (URSR) only to the extent described.
Blocked Property and Other Prohibitions Still Reserved
GL 125 expressly does not authorize the unblocking or release of any property blocked or effectively immobilized under any part of 31 CFR chapter V. It also does not authorize any transactions prohibited by the RuHSR or URSR beyond the limited attendance/support authorization, nor transactions or activities prohibited by any other Executive order or any part of 31 CFR chapter V.
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