)[4] In general concept, the 1990 line is based on the 1867 United States – Russia Convention providing for the US purchase of Alaska.

From the point, 65° 30' N, 168° 58' 37" W the maritime boundary extends north along the 168° 58' 37" W meridian through the Bering Strait and Chukchi Sea into the Arctic Ocean as far as permitted under international law.

The issue of ratification of the Agreement by Russia was not raised, primarily due to ambiguous assessments of its economic consequences for fishing in the Bering Sea.

Russian government agencies have repeatedly conducted an examination of this Agreement for its compliance with the norms of international maritime law, the interests of Russia and an assessment of possible consequences in the event of non-ratification.

The agreement does not contradict the interests of Russia, except for the loss of the right to conduct marine fishing in the area in the middle part of the Bering Sea.

Many in Russia have criticized Mikhail Gorbachev and Edvard Shevardnadze for rushing the deal, ceding Russian fishing rights and other maritime benefits, but Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently defended the agreement as being in the interest of all parties.