With US tariffs threatening India’s exports, the prospect of a Russia-Ukraine peace deal has become more than a distant hope – it may be New Delhi’s best chance for some economic breathing room, analysts say.
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A summit in Alaska on Friday between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin failed to yield a breakthrough, but Trump later called the talks “productive” and Putin suggested hosting a follow-up meeting in Moscow.
Trump is set to host another separate summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday.
For India, whose exports to the US face a 25 per cent tariff – and the threat of twice that over its purchases of Russian oil – the outcome of these diplomatic overtures will have far-reaching consequences.
“If Trump and Putin are able to strike a deal, then it will certainly reduce pressure on India and the whole debate on secondary sanctions on India becomes redundant,” said Harsh Pant, professor of international relations at King’s College London.
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