Sat Aug 16 05:23:20 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the provided text:

**India Welcomes Trump-Putin Summit, Awaits Tariff Clarity**

**NEW DELHI, August 16, 2025** – India has expressed its approval of the recent summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, hailing the “progress made” towards resolving the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. While the meeting concluded without any definitive agreements, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hinted at an upcoming trilateral summit, offering a glimmer of hope for a diplomatic solution.

The summit’s amicable atmosphere has raised hopes in India, which currently faces significant U.S. tariffs on its exports and penalties for importing Russian oil. However, President Trump refrained from making explicit promises regarding a reconsideration of these tariffs.

In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) commended the “leadership in the pursuit of peace” displayed by both the U.S. and Russian Presidents, emphasizing that “the way forward can only be through dialogue and diplomacy.”

Despite welcoming the summit, the MEA declined to comment on President Trump’s claims that India has ceased to be an “oil client” of Russia. Furthermore, the ministry remained silent regarding President Trump’s repeated assertions, previously denied by India, about his role in mediating the India-Pakistan ceasefire back in May.

In a post-summit interview with Fox News, President Trump indicated that he would address the issue of tariffs on Russian oil within “two or three weeks,” potentially suggesting that the August 27th deadline for punitive tariffs could pass without implementation. While refraining from directly addressing tariffs on China, a larger importer of Russian oil, President Trump implied that the successful summit with Putin might alleviate the need for such measures.

Earlier, President Trump had claimed that India had already agreed to cease purchasing Russian oil, a statement contradicted by Indian oil refining PSUs. These companies have maintained their purchase of up to 2 million barrels per day of Russian oil, stating that they have received no directives from the government to alter their sourcing practices.

Adding another layer of complexity, President Trump reiterated his claims of playing a crucial role in de-escalating the India-Pakistan conflict following the Pahalgam attack, suggesting he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for his mediation efforts.

The coming days will be crucial in determining the fate of the controversial 50% tariffs and the overall impact of the Trump-Putin summit on India’s economic and diplomatic relations. A meeting between Indian and U.S. trade negotiators is scheduled for August 25th, pending confirmation.

Read More