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The Wire
12 hours ago
- Business
- The Wire
Explainer: The Trump–Putin Summit and its Immediate Consequences For New Delhi
New Delhi: For India, the Trump–Putin summit in Anchorage was more than a geopolitical spectacle in the frozen north. Rather, it carried immediate consequences for New Delhi's economic future. With the US having slapped punitive tariffs on Indian goods for Russian oil purchases, New Delhi watched the meeting closely, weighing whether Trump's diplomacy might ease the pressure or deepen its bind. Here is The Wire's explainer on what unfolded in Alaska on Saturday (August 16), and what it could mean for India. What exactly happened at the Trump–Putin summit in Anchorage? The day began with a carefully staged welcome at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. US President Donald Trump's plane landed shortly after 10:20 a.m., and Russian President Vladimir Putin followed about half an hour later. Just after 11 a.m., the two leaders walked out onto a red-carpeted platform marked 'Alaska 2025,' framed by four F-22 fighter jets and a flyover that included a B-2 stealth bomber. After the handshake and photo op, Trump invited Putin into his presidential limousine. The pair spoke privately for a few minutes on the short ride to the venue, a break from protocol that underscored Trump's preference for unscripted encounters. Formal talks began around 11:30 a.m. in a 'three-on-three' format. Trump sat with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff, while Putin was flanked by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and adviser Yuri Ushakov. The discussions ran for nearly three hours before concluding in the mid-afternoon. At about 3 p.m., the two leaders appeared before the press to deliver short statements, but they took no questions and announced no breakthrough. Putin departed soon afterwards, while Trump left Anchorage in the early evening for his return flight to Washington. In total, Putin's first visit to US in ten years, lasted less than six hours. Did Trump manage to secure a ceasefire, or did the talks end without progress? While flying to Anchorage, Trump told a Fox News anchor on Air Force One that he 'won't be happy' if he did not get a ceasefire deal at the summit. That set expectations for the meeting, which ran for nearly three hours behind closed doors. Yet when the two leaders appeared before the press, it was clear no such agreement had been reached. Trump nonetheless struck an upbeat note. 'We really made some great progress today,' he said, stressing that negotiations were ongoing and that more meetings would follow. He did not provide details of what that progress involved. 'There were many, many points that we agreed on, most of them, I would say, a couple of big ones that we haven't quite gotten there, but we've made some headway. So there's no deal until there is a deal,' he said. Later in an interview with Sean Hannity of Fox News, he said that the onus was now on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to get a cease-fire deal. Putin also kept up the optimistic narrative. 'We held our talks in a constructive and mutually respectful atmosphere, and they have proved substantive and productive.' The Russian President flattered Trump by stating that the Ukraine war would not have started if Trump had been president. He also restated Moscow's demands for a 'long-term and lasting' settlement on Ukraine war – addressing the 'root causes' of the conflict, ensuring 'all of Russia's legitimate concerns' are met, and restoring a 'fair security balance in Europe and the rest of the world.' He signalled, standing next to the US President, that the roadblock lay across the Atlantic. 'We hope that Kiev and the European capitals will take the current developments constructively and will neither try to put up obstacles nor attempt to disrupt the emerging progress with provocative acts or behind-the-scenes plots.' Does the outcome make Putin the real winner of the meeting? For Vladimir Putin, the Alaska summit represented a clear diplomatic victory, one achieved without compromise. Back in Moscow, the tone was jubilant. 'The very fact of the meeting in Alaska, its tone, and its outcome represent a significant and joint success for both presidents, each of whom made a tremendous personal contribution to achieving the best possible result at this time," Konstantin Kosachyov, a chair of the foreign affairs committee of Russia's upper house of parliament, wrote on Telegram, according to Reuters. Others were more blunt. As one senior Russian policymaker told The Guardian, 'Putin gave Trump nothing, but still got everything he wanted.' The absence of new sanctions, Trump's tacit recognition of Moscow's red lines, and the symbolism of being treated as an equal to the US president all fed into the narrative of triumph. Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev also singled out Trump's refusal to escalate pressure on Moscow over Ukraine as one of the most important outcomes. He described the summit as a restoration of top-level dialogue that was 'peaceful, free of ultimatums or threats,' and noted that Putin had 'presented our conditions for ending the conflict in Ukraine … in person and in detail.' In the United States, however, the verdict was also clear that Putin had scored a PR goal. The Washington Post called the summit ' not a disaster, but it was a US defeat.' The New York Times argued that Putin had effectively achieved a major war goal. ' He has gotten out of the box of sanctioned autocrat, and was greeted by the president of the United States as a peacemaker. He has bought time. He has defused all that talk of sanctions on his oil sector. And he gave up nothing'. How did Europe and Ukraine react to the summit? European leaders, led by Germany, France, the UK, Italy and the EU, issued a joint statement reaffirming their unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and insisting that Russia could not dictate Kyiv's future ties with NATO or the EU. They pledged to tighten sanctions and maintain economic pressure on Moscow until what they described as a just and lasting peace is achieved. While leaders such as UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron praised Donald Trump's initiative in meeting Vladimir Putin, they stressed that any talks must be coupled with strong security guarantees for Ukraine. Kyiv's response was more guardedly optimistic. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy welcomed Trump's proposal for a trilateral format with Ukraine included, but said European participation was essential to ensure binding guarantees. He confirmed he would travel to Washington on Monday after a 'long and substantive' phone call with Trump, noting 'positive signals' about the United States taking part in future security arrangements. Trump's post-summit remarks on Fox News, however, fuelled unease in Kyiv and in several European capitals. In an interview with Sean Hannity, he contrasted Russia's status with Ukraine's, saying: 'Russia is a very big power, and they're not' and added that Zelenskiy 'gotta make a deal.' For many European officials, this reinforced fears that Trump might pressure Kyiv into concessions without securing reciprocal guarantees from Moscow. How did New Delhi react, and what drives that stance? India welcomed the Alaska summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, framing it as a positive step toward dialogue. 'India welcomes the Summit meeting in Alaska between President Trump and President Putin,' Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, adding that New Delhi 'consistently advocates dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward in resolving the Ukraine conflict.' He noted that India 'appreciates the progress made in the Summit'. 'India welcomes the Summit meeting in Alaska between President Trump and President Putin,' Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, adding that New Delhi 'consistently advocates dialogue and diplomacy as the way forward in resolving the Ukraine conflict.' He also noted that India 'appreciates the progress made in the Summit.' New Delhi's response can be read as relief that the focus on dialogue creates a potential opening for India, which has been squeezed between its strategic partnership with Washington and its heavy reliance on Russian energy. That pressure intensified earlier this month when the US raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50 percent, following secondary sanctions of 25 percent on Russian oil purchases. India, the second-largest buyer of Russian crude after China, was singled out by the measures. While Trump told Fox News' Sean Hannity that he would hold off on penalising China for now, the uncertainty over whether India will face continued tariffs remains. Could India gain some relief on US tariffs as a side-effect of Trump's diplomacy? Donald Trump's latest push to nudge Moscow towards a Ukraine deal has raised questions in New Delhi over whether India might see relief from the steep US tariffs imposed on Russian oil imports. The additional 25 percent duty, announced in late August, coincided with signs of Trump's growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Indian officials viewed the sanctions partly as an extension of that irritation. En route to Alaska, Trump told Fox News that India had been forced to stop buying Russian oil because of the tariffs. Former Indian ambassador to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria described the Alaska meeting as 'reassuring' for India. 'The first good news is that the meeting took place,' he told The Wire, noting there were 'no shock outcomes of trouble' and no sign of 'a complete breakdown in that relationship.' He said Trump appeared to hint at flexibility. 'There was an indication he will either give more time to India for the 25 percent sanctions… or he will reverse them, or he will give that a bigger timeline,' Bisaria said. While there was brewing backlash in Washington that Putin may have gained an upper hand, Trump may still continue to believe that he is on the right path. 'He may be hearing other voices in his ear,' he said, pointing out that while some in Trump's circle are Russia hawks, 'the MAGA base supports him ending the wars. So, there won't be an issue with them.' Bisaria, however, added that conditions in Ukraine could yet derail any opening. 'If there's a major escalation in battlefield violence, that is a danger to the process, because right now it's the most fragile,' he said. In his view, both Trump and Putin are interested in a deal, with Ukraine and Europe seeking at least the optics of being consulted.
Euronews
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Euronews
Trump and Putin's Alaska Summit in photos
Trump's arrival US President Donald Trump arrived in Anchorage, Alaska after boarding Air Force One for a seven hour flight from Washington. Trump arrived at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, the chosen venue for the highly anticipated meeting, shortly before his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin's plane landed. The base was once a crucial US military asset tasked with monitoring the Soviet Union during the Cold War, and rarely receives non-military visitors, let alone two sitting presidents. Putin's arrival Putin arrived for his high-stakes meeting with Trump, after having boarded the Russian presidential jet for around nine hours from the capital Moscow. The Russian leader brought several high-ranking officials on his trip, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and his top foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov. They're part of an agreed upon entourage with Trump also being joined by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff. The handshake Both leaders disembarked their planes at the same time and made their way down the red carpets, which were laid out to intersect in the middle, before a final stretch leading to a small stage branded with 'Alaska 2025'. Trump, who had the shorter walk from his plane, arrived at the meeting point on the red carpet where he awaited Putin. The US president was pictured smiling to the approaching Putin from a distance and even offered him three small bursts of applauses before meeting. Trump greeted Putin warmly – despite his typical tug and pull style handshake – patting his counterpart's shoulders several times before turning to face the cameras for a small photo session. They pair then approached the stage where they posed for several more photos as US media present at the site hurled questions their way. They then both entered Trump's presidential vehicle – codenamed 'The Beast' – where they were pictured sharing a laugh and smile, as they were driven together to the summit venue. Closed-door talks The leaders then entered the venue at the base where they were joined by their delegations. Media personnel were briefly permitted into the room to take photos before the leaders began their discussions. The discussions lasted around two-and-a-half hours, and although no breakthrough was made, Putin and Trump say they agreed to a common ground on which a potential peace path may be established. The pair described their meeting as highly constructive and respectful. Press conference The two presidents then addressed the media in a joint press conference for just under 15 minutes where they offered a summary of their talks. They then agreed that more negotiations are needed in the coming weeks to build on the momentum established in the Alaska Summit, with President Putin suggesting Moscow as the venue for their next meeting. Trump chuckled saying 'oh that's an interesting one, I don't know, I'll get a little heat on that one, but I can see it possibly happening'.
India.com
21 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
Pursuing Nobel Peace: Why Trump-Putin Meeting Was Not About Ukraine War But Optics
Trump-Putin Meeting in Alaska: When US President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met in Alaska on Friday, every aspect of the meeting was precisely planned. The backdrop, the stage, the meeting room, every inch was measured, every object was carefully inspected. American soldiers were deployed to look after the arrangements, be it the positioning of the 'Alaska 2025' board or rolling of the red carpet for Putin. However, those aware of the recent developments knew that nothing was going to happen as neither side has any leverage over each-other. For Putin, it was a moment of sending a global message that he is keen on ending the war, while for Trump, it was yet another posturing of peace. 'Pursuing Peace' Trump and Putin met and spoke with large flex backdrops bearing 'Pursuing Peace' written all over them. The 'Pursuing Peace' banner was not a message for global peace but for Trump's ambition for chasing the Nobel Peace prize. One seeing the flex-board should read 'Pursuing Peace' as 'Pursuing Nobel Peace' and then the summit would automatically start making a sense. How come someone was expecting a ceasefire when Trump, hours before the meeting, already announced that he won't be negotating for Ukraine. After the meeting, Presidents Trump and Putin said that they made progress in three hours of talks on Friday, moving closer to finding an end to the Ukraine War, but did not announce an immediate ceasefire. Before the summit, Trump maintained that the meeting was a sounding board aimed at facilitating a direct meeting between Presidents Putin and Zelensky. Trump also stated that it's not about ending the Ukraine war but about bringing Putin to the negotiation table. The US President had warned Putin of severe consequences if no deal is made but after the meeting, he was so chill that he kept shaking hands with Putin. 'We made some great progress today… We had an extremely productive meeting and many points were agreed to.' - President Donald J. Trump — The White House (@WhiteHouse) August 15, 2025 For Trump, it was all about yet another optics where he could claim credit. Trump had promised to end the Russia-Ukraine war on day 1 in his office, and it's been over six months now. The US President has been begging the world leaders to recommend his name for the Nobel Peace Prize and many have obliged. After meeting Putin, Trump again reiterated his claim of ending five wars, while not counting the alleged 'decimation' of Iranian nuclear sites. It's Trump who gave space to Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir to issue a nuclear threat to half of the world from US soil. Putin Pleases Trump Russian President Putin, though he refused to agree to a ceasefire on American terms, handled Trump diplomatically by praising the US President. Putin, in front of the media, agreed with Trump's claim that had the latter been in power in 2022 in the US, the Russia-Ukraine war could have been averted. Later, during an interview, Trump accepted that he was happy to hear this from Putin that the war could not have happened had he been in the President of the US back then. The day is not too far when Trump will use this statement for nominating himself for the Nobel Peace prize. WOW! Vladimir Putin is making Democrats FURIOUS after saying: "When President Trump says if he was the president back then, there would be no would indeed be SO. I can confirm that." — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 15, 2025 "We had a very productive meeting, and there were many points that we agreed on. Couple of big ones that we haven't quite gotten there but we made some headway. There's no deal until there's a deal, so, I will call up NATO in a little while, and I will call up the various people that are appropriate. I'll ofcourse call President Zelenskyy and tell him about today's meeting... We made some great progress today," said Trump, who appeared nervous or surprised most of the time during the meeting, while Putin looked firm. Also Read: What Happened At Alaska Summit Russia-US To Trade But Sanctions On India At the news conference, Putin made the pitch for trade. 'It is clear that the US and Russian investment and business cooperation has tremendous potential', Putin said. He asserted that trade between the US and Russia had grown 20 per cent under Trump, who has threatened to penalise India with a 25 per cent tariff for buying oil from Russia. Had Trump been serious about ending the Russia-Ukraine war, at the outset, he would have terminated any trade with Moscow. He did not go after China but after India, considering it a soft target. Stage For US To Flex Muscles With four F-35s and a B-2 Spirit bomber flying over Putin, it was clear that the summit was nothing but Trump's optics and a stage for the US to flex its muscle to maintain hegemony. Notably, Putin joined Trump in his motorcade, the vehicles drove past multiple F-22 fighter jets, a few B-2 bombers and several attack helicopters stations on the runway. There is no doubt that Trump is the biggest flex but in diplomacy, flexing could hurt ego and damage the end outcome. Trump should not forget that Putin is a seasoned political leader, unlike him and strong-arm tactics only weaken his credibility. Trump just flew a B-2 stealth bomber over Putin's head… Absolutely incredible. — Geiger Capital (@Geiger_Capital) August 15, 2025 WOW! This is what President Putin saw while riding with President Trump in the motorcade in Alaska. Nothing but pure USA military might. A B-2 flew over his head moments before this. I am LOVING it — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) August 15, 2025 Nobel Peace Prize Notably, the deadline for submitting nominations for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize is January 31, 2026, while the nominations for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize have already concluded. If Trump gets the peace prize next year, there won't be any doubt that he pressured his way to the global award, rather than doing any work to deserve it.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Historic handshake, warm smiles and a ride together in ‘The Beast': What happened when Trump met Putin
The summit meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin is underway at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. Wearing a dark suit, white shirt and red tie, US President Donald Trump descended the stairs from Air Force One at 11:08am local time, and he walked along a red carpet. He stopped and, as Russian President Vladimir Putin approached, applauded him before offering a handshake and a tap on the arm. Putin appeared to make a joke, prompting smiles from both leaders. They walked together toward a platform marked 'Alaska 2025,'where again the two leaders exchanged a handshake, posed for photographs; but as reporters shouted questions at Putin about a ceasefire and civilian casualties, the Russian president shrugged as if indicating he couldn't hear them. American military aircraft—including fighter jets and what appeared to be a B-2 stealth bomber—thundered overhead. WATCH : Stealth bombers fly over as Trump greets Putin in Alaska#TrumpPutinSummit — The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) August 15, 2025 Putin then joined Trump in the presidential limousine, 'The Beast'. The two could be seen laughing inside. When not travelling aboard Air Force One or by helicopter on Marine One, US presidents are chauffeured in a heavily armoured presidential limousine known as 'The Beast.' President @realDonaldTrump and President Putin riding in The Beast together 🇺🇸🇷🇺 — Margo Martin (@MargoMartin47) August 15, 2025 'The Beast,' weighing 20,000 pounds and equipped with advanced security and communications systems, debuted during Trump's first term in 2018 and reportedly cost $1.5 million to build. While it resembles an elongated Cadillac XT6, its chassis comes from a Chevrolet Kodiak truck. Security features remain classified, but a report by NBC, suggests the vehicle has night-vision, tear gas launchers, electrified door handles, 3-inch-thick windows, and 8-inch armor plating—making it one of the most secure vehicles in the world.
News18
a day ago
- Automotive
- News18
Handshakes, Chuckles & Sharing POTUS' ‘Beast' Car: Watch Trump's Warm Welcome To Putin In Alaska
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin shook hands as they met after years for talks on Ukraine war. Trump gave Putin a warm welcome in front of the cameras and took him in his own car. Handshakes, smiles, and warmth were on display as Russian President Vladimir Putin met Donald Trump for an all-important summit in Alaska, where the two leaders held discussions on the Ukraine conflict, without the presence of Volodymyr Zelenskyy. As Trump deboarded his Air Force One, he walked down the red carpet laid out for Putin. The Russian President walked up to his US counterpart and shook hands. Warmth was on full display as both leaders seemingly held a friendly conversation. Then they walked to the stage with 'Alaska 2025" written on it. As they started moving from the spot, Trump invited Putin to join him in his vehicle, Russian state media reported. Putin skipped using his own Aurus limousine and rode with Trump in Trump's armored car, 'The Beast'. Russian state media RIA Novosti reported that Trump invited Putin to join him in his car, to which the Russian President agreed. The two leaders shared a chuckle after getting into the POTUS' 'The Beast' car. It is highly unusual to see the leaders of two superpowers – in this case adversaries – ride in the same limousine. There did not appear to be interpreters in the vehicle, and Putin speaks English well enough to hold a conversation with Trump. This may add to the mystery of what the two leaders discuss in private on the high-stakes visit, New York Times reported. Russia 24 described the early exchange between the two leaders as 'extremely friendly". view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
