Despite recent economic friction with the United States, India has voiced its support for the planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15, 2025. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) released a statement expressing hope that the summit will lead to a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

The announcement of India's support comes shortly after the U.S. government levied criticism against India for its continued import of Russian oil, as well as the doubling of tariffs on Indian goods to 50%. This backdrop of tariff disputes makes India's endorsement of the Trump-Putin talks particularly noteworthy.

The MEA's statement referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi's repeated assertion that "this is not an era of war". The statement emphasized India's readiness to support efforts aimed at achieving peace. "India welcomes the understanding reached between the United States and the Russian Federation for a meeting in Alaska on 15th August 2025," the MEA stated. "This meeting holds the promise of bringing to an end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and opening up the prospects for peace".

The upcoming meeting will be the first US-Russia summit since 2021, when former President Joe Biden met with Putin in Geneva. Trump has indicated that the discussions would heavily focus on brokering a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Ahead of the summit, Trump suggested that a potential peace deal might involve the exchange of territories, adding that although reaching an agreement would not be easy, there would be "some swapping of territories, to the betterment of both".

The phone conversation on Friday between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where they discussed the Ukraine situation, preceded India's endorsement of the summit.

The positive response from India highlights the country's consistent advocacy for peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue. Despite facing economic pressure from the U.S. in the form of increased tariffs, India's support for the Trump-Putin meeting underscores its commitment to diplomacy and peaceful solutions on the global stage. The outcome of the Trump-Putin talks in Alaska remains to be seen, but India's backing adds a significant voice to the international community hoping for de-escalation and a path toward peace in Ukraine.