India has extended support to the recent high-level talks between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing the summit as a positive step toward ending the prolonged conflict in Ukraine.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs (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 MEA further noted that progress had been made during the discussions, underlining India’s consistent call for diplomacy. “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,” it added.
Talks in Alaska
Trump and Putin met at a military base in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday for several hours of discussions. While the talks did not yield an immediate ceasefire, Trump stressed that a durable peace agreement, rather than a temporary truce, was necessary to end the war launched by Moscow more than three years ago.
The US President also confirmed that he had invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the White House on Monday. Depending on the outcome, a potential trilateral dialogue involving the US, Russia, and Ukraine may soon take shape.
Why the Talks Matter for India
For India, the outcome of these discussions holds economic as well as strategic significance. Trump’s administration had recently raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50 percent, citing New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian crude. A peace settlement could potentially lead to a rollback of these punitive measures.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also been in touch with Zelensky to discuss bilateral cooperation and the wider diplomatic context. The Ukrainian leader revealed that both agreed to meet in person on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September to deepen ties and explore reciprocal visits.
Growing India-Ukraine Engagement
The strengthening relationship between New Delhi and Kyiv was also highlighted during India’s Independence Day celebrations on Friday. President Zelensky extended warm wishes to India, which Modi acknowledged with gratitude.
“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,” Modi wrote on X.
