Trump Signals Confidence Ahead of Crucial Alaska Summit with Putin

Washington: US President Donald Trump expressed strong confidence in his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, set for August 15 in Alaska, stating that Putin “won’t mess around with me.” The summit, announced by Trump on Truth Social, aims to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, a conflict that has persisted for over three years. Trump believes the talks hold a 25% chance of failure but remains optimistic about achieving a resolution.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) welcomed the summit, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noting that it “holds the promise” of ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The MEA emphasized India’s readiness to support peace efforts, aligning with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stance that “this is not an era of war.” India’s hope that a successful outcome could ease tensions over its Russian oil trade, which has faced scrutiny from Trump, who imposed a 25% tariff on India for importing Russian oil, raising the total tariff to 50%.

Trump’s announcement follows his accusation that India fuels the “Russian war machine” through oil purchases, a claim India rejected as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.”India has also criticized the US for not addressing similar energy purchases by China and Europe. Modi’s recent diplomatic engagements, including talks with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underscore India’s push for a peaceful resolution.

The Alaska summit is seen as a potential turning point, with global attention focused on whether Trump and Putin can negotiate a ceasefire. Trump’s assertion that both Russia and Ukraine are ready to “make a deal.” India’s supportive stance reflects its broader diplomatic efforts to mediate in the conflict while navigating its strained ties with the US over trade disputes.