Overview

• On August 18, President Putin phoned Prime Minister Modi to share his assessment of the Aug. 15 meeting with President Trump in Alaska.
• Modi thanked Putin for the update and reaffirmed India’s longstanding call for a peaceful resolution to the Russia–Ukraine war.
• India’s Ministry of External Affairs lodged a formal protest against a 50% US tariff on its Russian oil imports, labeling the measure unjust and absurd and warning it undermines its energy security.
• President Trump hosted Ukrainian President Zelensky at the White House on August 17 and promoted a US–Russia–Ukraine trilateral summit as the path to end the conflict.
• Russia has been briefing strategic partners such as India on its Alaska discussions, underscoring Moscow’s efforts to shape international understanding of the talks.