India has welcomed the high-profile summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing their engagement in Alaska as a “commendable” step toward peace, even as tensions simmer over Washington’s recent trade actions against New Delhi. “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,” said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a statement issued shortly after the talks concluded. India also voiced support for diplomatic efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine. “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 statement added. However, New Delhi has been closely monitoring developments — not just for their geopolitical implications, but also due to growing pressure from Washington over India’s continued purchase of discounted Russian oil. President Trump recently threatened secondary sanctions on India and imposed a steep 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports of Russian energy.
In retaliation, India has enforced a reciprocal 25 per cent tariff on US goods, straining the economic ties between the two countries. The Alaska summit — the first in-person meeting between Trump and Putin since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine — lasted just under three hours, far shorter than the initially planned seven.
Both leaders delivered brief pre-written statements to the media but declined to take questions. No definitive roadmap emerged from the talks on how to end the conflict, which has claimed or injured over a million people in Ukraine and Russia. Putin reiterated that Russia is committed to ending the war but insisted that the conflict’s “primary causes” must be addressed to achieve a lasting agreement.
He also warned Ukraine and the European Union against “throwing a wrench in the works,” cautioning them not to use “backroom dealings to conduct provocations to torpedo the nascent progress.” Trump described the summit as “extremely productive,” claiming “many points were agreed to.”
He said there is a “very good chance of getting there”— referring to a ceasefire— though he acknowledged that “significant” sticking points remain. In a significant development, Trump announced that he will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington on Monday, with a potential trilateral summit including Putin also under consideration. “Ukraine reaffirms its readiness to work with maximum effort to achieve peace. It is important that America’s strength has an impact on the development of the situation,” Zelensky wrote on social media. He welcomed Trump’s proposal for a three-way meeting, signalling Kyiv’s openness to broader diplomatic engagement.
India’s statement highlights its nuanced diplomatic positioning.
While maintaining strong strategic ties with Washington, India continues to rely on Russian oil and defense imports — a balancing act that has drawn increasing scrutiny from Western capitals.
Analysts believe India’s message is twofold- a genuine endorsement of diplomacy, and a subtle pushback against punitive US trade measures. As global leaders inch toward renewed negotiations, India’s role as a potential stabilizer or quiet mediator could become increasingly significant.