'Ready to support': India endorses Russia-US summit in Alaska
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Time of India
12 minutes ago
- Time of India
Zelenskyy's off-ramp
Times of India's Edit Page team comprises senior journalists with wide-ranging interests who debate and opine on the news and issues of the day. There are no good options for Ukraine in Trump-Putin talks, but some may be better than others Friday will likely be wet in Alaska when Trump and Putin meet to discuss an end to the Ukraine war. The venue might make Putin wistful, for Alaska, like Ukraine, was once part of the Russian empire, sold to America in 1867 for 2 cents an acre. But the former KGB Lt Col is famously inscrutable, and when asked if he would annex Alaska after Crimea, in 2014, replied: 'What would you need Alaska for?' Alaska's either too cold for Putin, or as a realist, he accepts its status as a fait accompli. Likewise with Crimea. He's held it since a choreographed referendum in 2014, and considers it a fait accompli for the rest of the world. Europe doesn't, but Trump, whose politics are 100% transactional, might for a deal, which has become a matter of prestige for him. In April, he told Time: 'Crimea will stay with Russia…Zelenskyy understands that.' But a Russian Crimea isn't a fait accompli for Zelenskyy. On Saturday, he made it clear that his people 'will not gift their land to the occupier'. It's a position that Indians can appreciate. Although Pakistan illegally occupied a part of Kashmir over 75 years ago, India will never sign it off. There's a very clear distinction between de facto and de jure possession. Ukraine's seal on Crimea's Russian occupation will permanently end its claim on it. And this is a likely sticking point in whatever deal Trump and Putin thrash out. From Zelenskyy's point of view, the fact that he's been left out of the negotiations, is equally problematic. His people have fought Russia at great national cost for over 40 months. To now buy peace on Russian terms – endorsed by Trump – would be galling. But that might be the only peace on offer when Russia has been gaining ground. Putin's reportedly offered to end hostilities if Ukraine gives up Donetsk and Luhansk as well. Zelenskyy's in an unenviable position. If he rejects a Trump-brokered deal, he might find US military and other aid cut off. Fighting has already taken a heavy toll – Ukraine's GDP is where it was in 2008, and one of the lowest in Europe. He can swallow the bitter pill now, and take his country on a path of growth, backed by his Western friends. It's an unpalatable fait accompli, but also a realistic off-ramp for his country. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
Time of India
30 minutes ago
- Time of India
NATO Ukraine support: Mark Rutte says alliance ensuring Kyiv has tools to stay in fight ahead of Trump-Putin summit
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stated that the alliance is 'making sure that Ukraine has what it needs to stay in the fight' ahead of the Aug. 15 meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has not been invited to the meeting, though US officials have indicated a potential future trilateral summit. In an interview on CBS's Face the Nation , Rutte emphasized NATO's coordination role. 'And, as you said, NATO is coordinating all of this through our command in Wiesbaden, making sure that Ukraine has what it needs to stay in the fight and be in the best possible position when it comes to negotiations on a ceasefire [and] a peace deal,' he said. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program Also read: 'It could be that we have to put secondary sanctions on Russia': Trump renews threat to Kremlin amid Ukrai Moscow has proposed a ceasefire agreement that would give Russia control over Eastern Ukraine in exchange for ending the three-year conflict. Zelensky rejected the proposal on X, calling it a 'stillborn' decision if made without Ukraine's involvement. Ceasefire talks, defense spending, and NATO Ukraine support initiatives Rutte acknowledged that Ukraine may initially be excluded from the Aug. 15 talks until conditions for credible negotiations are met. 'What will happen on Friday is testing Putin by President Trump,' he said. 'And, obviously, when it comes to peace talks, the ceasefire, and what happens after that on territories, on security guarantees for Ukraine, Ukraine will have to be and will be involved.' Live Events The NATO chief commended Trump for initiating dialogue with Russia in February, breaking what Rutte described as a diplomatic 'deadlock' left from former President Joe Biden's strategy of isolating Moscow. Rutte also noted recent US measures, including an Aug. 6 executive order imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on India's purchases of Russian oil, raising the total tariff to 50 per cent. These tariffs take effect 21 days after signing. He cited Trump's role in securing a 5 per cent defense spending agreement among NATO allies in June and a July deal to deliver more weapons to Ukraine. 'We had a great NATO summit under his leadership, committing to 5 per cent defense spending… And then he opened the floodgates three weeks ago of American lethal weapons to be delivered into Ukraine, coordinated by NATO, and, of course, the secondary sanctions,' Rutte said.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Russia Says U.S.-Made HIMARS Rockets Shot Down In Ukraine Ahead Of Trump-Putin Talks
Russia's Defence Ministry claims its forces have destroyed multiple U.S.-made and Ukrainian weapons in large-scale strikes across Ukraine, including six HIMARS rockets, two Neptune missiles, and 372 drones within 24 hours. Moscow says over 1,300 Ukrainian troops were killed, and strategic positions were captured in Donetsk's Sredneye settlement with further advances toward Zelenaya Dolina. This intensified assault comes ahead of a planned August 15 meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump in Alaska to discuss a potential Ukraine ceasefire, despite Kyiv's opposition. Read More
