Following the recent summit in Alaska between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which is considered a critical event in efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine, former diplomat Veena Sikri has expressed a positive outlook. Sikri anticipates a potential reconsideration of the additional tariffs that the United States previously imposed on India, suggesting that these tariffs on Indian goods could be suspended.
These comments were made in the wake of a highly significant meeting between Putin and Trump. Sikri pointed out that the topic of tariffs on Russia’s oil exports to India, China, and the European Union may have been a subject of discussion between the two leaders.
“From President Trump’s side, I think there is some kind of discussion on this, definitely with President Putin, and it seems that an understanding has been reached that tariffs on Russia’s oil sales to China, India, and even the EU do not need to be imposed. There might even be a possibility of trade between Russia and America. So, there is talk of that… President Putin talked about it, saying, ‘Oh yes, we have good trade with the USA.’ I think this issue of the additional tariff may not come up; maybe it will be put in abeyance for a while,” Sikri said.
While the meeting did not lead to a resolution or cessation of the war in Ukraine, both leaders viewed the talks as productive. The summit has presented an opportunity for a change in Washington’s strategy concerning India.