The Indian government has expressed its approval of the upcoming meeting between former US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, scheduled for August 15th. This meeting is intended to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. A statement from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs highlighted India’s positive stance, stating it welcomes the dialogue between the US and Russia. The statement also referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s position that the current time is not an era of war. This meeting signifies Putin’s first visit to the US since 2015. The meeting was announced by President Trump via Truth Social, and the Kremlin stated the leaders will concentrate on methods for a sustained peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis, an endeavor described as difficult, with Moscow intending to participate “actively and energetically.” Trump, while at the White House for the Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement signing, suggested a potential land exchange within any agreement. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, however, has stated that Ukrainian territory will not be ceded. Furthermore, Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Putin in Moscow. The United States considered the meeting to be productive. Recently, Trump initiated a 25% tariff on Russian oil imports for India.
