The U.S. Treasury on Friday granted a temporary sanctions waiver allowing Russian President Vladimir Putin to travel to Alaska for direct talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. The exemption, announced hours before the leaders met, was the first such license issued for Putin since travel restrictions were imposed in response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Putin and Trump convened in Anchorage to discuss the war in Ukraine and broader security issues. The Kremlin earlier signalled the conversation could run at least six to seven hours, but media outlets close to the delegation reported the session concluded after roughly three hours. No joint statement was released immediately after the meeting. Speaking beforehand, Trump warned the encounter "could be severe consequences" if meaningful progress was not achieved. Separately, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said she would back a nomination of Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize should the negotiations produce a settlement that does not “capitulate” to Moscow.