The geopolitical scenario involving the United States, India and Russia is becoming intriguing by the day. US President’s Donald Trump’s anger over India’s growing alignment with Russia has already translated into economic retaliation.
In a move widely seen as punitive, the Trump administration imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods for New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, which he said meant the country was funding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. That raised the total duty on Indian exports to 50 per cent, among the highest of any US trading partner.India, for its part, has called out Trump’s hypocrisy, reminding that the US continues to import uranium hexafluoride for nuclear facilities, palladium for electric vehicle production, along with fertilisers and chemical products.
Now, in a fresh twist, Trump has declared that he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15 to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. He called it a “highly anticipated meeting” in a post on Truth Social.
Trump told a section of the media that negotiations involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were progressing. He hinted that a ceasefire could soon be on the table — potentially involving concessions. “There’ll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both,” Trump was quoted as saying without going into specifics.
It’s a different reality on the battlefield. Ukrainian forces remain locked in intense fighting across a 1,000-kilometre front, according to news agencies.
In particular, the Pokrovsk area in Donetsk is under severe risk, as Russian troops press toward Dnipropetrovsk.
Commanders on the ground voiced distrust in any diplomatic initiative.
“It is impossible to negotiate with them. The only option is to defeat them,” said Buda, a drone unit commander from the Spartan Brigade.
Meanwhile, according to reports, Russia has laid claim to Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, along with Crimea, seized 11 years ago.
Zelenskyy didn’t rule out truce if enough pressure was exerted on Russia. He said his administration remained in constant communication with the US, and he had spoken with leaders of more than a dozen nations.
After a meeting with Zelenskyy, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also expressed optimism, although it was guarded.
“There were hopes for at least a freeze in the fighting,” he was quoted as saying.
As Trump seethes over India’s continued engagement with the Kremlin, his upcoming summit with Putin in Alaska has injected new unpredictability into an already volatile global equation.
Also Read: President Trump Imposes 25 Per Cent Tariff On Indian Imports, Citing Russia Ties and Trade Barriers https://www.vibesofindia.com/president-trump-imposes-25-per-cent-tariff-on-indian-imports-citing-russia-ties-and-trade-barriers/
