India Welcomes Trump Putin Talks in Alaska, Emphasises Diplomacy as Only Way Forward

August 16, 2025 MTIMES 39 Views global peace talks, India, India foreign policy, India US Russia diplomacy, India welcomes Trump-Putin talks, Indian tariff Russia oil, Narendra Modi Zelensky, Trump Putin Alaska talks, Trump Russia summit, Ukraine war news 4 min read

NEW DELHI: India on Saturday welcomed the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, stating that although the talks did not immediately result in a ceasefire, they opened up the possibility of finding a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said that India “welcomes the Summit meeting in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia” and described their joint effort to pursue peace as “highly commendable”. The government added that it “appreciates the progress made during the Trump-Putin talks” and reiterated that “the way forward can only be through dialogue and diplomacy” in order to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, which has continued for more than three years.

India welcomes Trump-Putin talks and says dialogue is key

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held discussions at a military airbase in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday. Although several hours of talks did not produce a ceasefire agreement, President Trump said the only viable solution is a solid peace deal rather than a temporary ceasefire, which would fail to resolve the underlying issue.

ALSO READ|No Breakthrough as Trump and Putin Conclude Alaska Summit Without Ukraine Ceasefire Deal

He also revealed that he has invited Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House for talks on Monday and indicated that, subject to progress, a potential trilateral meeting involving the United States, Russia and Ukraine could take place.

India’s interest in the outcome of the Trump-Putin talks is linked to the tariff implications arising from its purchase of Russian oil. Last month, President Trump doubled India’s tariffs to 50 per cent as a penalty for continuing to import Russian oil. A successful peace deal could lead to a reversal of these tariffs, which would be beneficial for New Delhi.

India welcomes Trump-Putin talks as global stakes remain high

The Ministry said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has held discussions with President Zelensky about bilateral cooperation and the broader diplomatic situation. President Zelensky confirmed that the two leaders agreed to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September and “to work on an exchange of visits”. He added that they also discussed sanctions on Russia, including limitations on exports of Russian energy.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated on X that he had spoken with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy regarding the current situation in Ukraine and other related issues. The United Kingdom is a member of NATO, and its leaders spoke to President Trump following the Alaska talks.

India’s growing relationship with Ukraine was also highlighted when President Zelensky extended Independence Day greetings to India on Friday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded by thanking him and reaffirming India’s commitment to deeper ties. “Thank you President Zelenskyy for your warm greetings. I deeply value the joint commitment to forging even closer ties between India and Ukraine. We earnestly wish our friends in Ukraine a future marked by peace, progress and prosperity,” the Prime Minister wrote on X.

India’s response to the Trump-Putin Alaska talks reflects its consistent call for diplomacy and dialogue as the only path towards lasting peace in Ukraine and highlights its stake in any future negotiations.

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