India commends push for peace by Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin
India lauded the US-Russia summit in Alaska, emphasizing dialogue and diplomacy for resolving the Ukraine conflict. The MEA urged Ukraine and the EU to prioritize a swift peace settlement. Trump hinted at a possible delay in implementing additional tariffs on India for Russian oil imports, following productive talks with Putin, signaling potential relief from further sanctions.
PTI **EDS: THIRD PARTY IMAGE** In this image posted by @mfa_russia via X on Aug. 16, 2025, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin during a joint press statement after their meeting, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, in Anchorage, Alaska. (@mfa_russia on X via PTI Photo) (PTI08_16_2025_000200B) New Delhi: India on Saturday welcomed the Summit meeting in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia and noted that their leadership in the pursuit of peace is highly commendable. "India appreciates the progress made in the Summit. The way forward can only be through dialogue and diplomacy. The world wants to see an early end to the conflict in Ukraine," MEA spokesperson said in a statement.
This in a indirect message to both Ukraine and the EU to focus on an early peace settlement instead of dragging the war. Highly placed told ET that the ball is now in the courts of Ukraine and EU to work towards peace and final settlement. Earlier India had endorsed the Summit and suggested that it can contribute to the efforts. India is hoping that a ceasefire could lift additional 25 per cent tariffs imposed on it on account of buying Russian oil which Trump claimed is fuelling "war efforts". Meanwhile US President Donald Trump has suggested he may put off implementing secondary or penalty tariffs as a result of the talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin indicating that India may not be facing any extra secondary sanctions over and above 50 % tariffs.
In an interview to US's Fox News after the talks, Trump said that he would consider the question of the penalty tariffs on Russian oil in "two or three weeks". Asked about tariffs on China which imports even more oil than India, Trump said that "because of what happened today, I think I don't have to think about that now," adding, "I think you know, the meeting [with Putin] went very well".
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