India Lauds Trump-Putin Alaska Summit, Backs Dialogue for Ukraine Peace
India on Saturday extended its full endorsement to the recently concluded Alaska Summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, praising their leadership as “highly commendable” in the pursuit of peace amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) underscored the critical role of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving the crisis, emphasizing that the world eagerly awaits an early end to the hostilities.
In a statement, the MEA said, “India welcomes the Summit meeting in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and President Vladimir Putin of Russia. Their leadership in the pursuit of peace is highly commendable.” The statement further added, “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.”
The summit brought a degree of relief for India, as US President Trump signaled a potential softening of his stance on imposing secondary sanctions on Russia and its trading partners. While he mentioned he might have to reconsider such measures in “two to three weeks,” he indicated that immediate action was not being considered. This comes after Trump had previously adopted an aggressive tone, threatening severe tariffs on countries, including India, for their purchase of Russian oil.
Following his talks with Putin, which he rated as a “10/10,” Trump said the Alaska summit “went well” and had been “very productive,” with many points of agreement. Despite no immediate final peace deal to end or pause the war, both leaders acknowledged making progress, with Trump stating, “There’s no deal until there’s a deal.”
Trump also placed the ball in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s court, suggesting that it is now up to him and European nations to “get it done” regarding a peace agreement. Zelenskyy, for his part, has asserted his readiness for “constructive cooperation” in ending the war after Trump conveyed that Putin favored a “comprehensive peace deal” over a mere ceasefire.
