The recent high-stakes summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska has been described as a vital step toward restoring peace in Ukraine. Former Diplomat Veena Sikri has expressed optimism that the additional tariffs previously sanctioned by the United States on India may be reconsidered. Her comments come after what many described as a game-changing meeting between Putin and Trump.
While speaking to ANI, Sikri suggested that the tariff issued on Russia’s oil exports to India, China, and the European Union may have been discussed by both superpowers. She emphasized that the tariffs on Indian goods may be put on hold.
Sikri said, “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.”
#WATCH | Delhi: On the future of US tariffs levied on India after Trump-Putin meet, Former Diplomat Veena Sikri says, “…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… pic.twitter.com/LvxdUqD8i7
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Although the meeting yielded no agreement to fully resolve or halt Moscow’s war in Ukraine, both leaders claimed the talks were productive. The summit has opened the door to a shift in Washington’s approach towards India.
She further stated that before the summit, the situation seemed dire for India due to the looming tariff threats. “Before the summit in Alaska, President Trump and President Putin, one of Trump’s senior ministers, the US Secretary of the Treasury, Mr. Bessant, had even said that, if the meeting doesn’t go well, then we may further increase the tariffs on India. So then it was not looking good at all. But after the meeting, there are indications that even the journalists have been asking President Trump, what about China? They’re buying so much oil from Russia. So why aren’t you telling them, putting tariffs on them? So President Trump replied that he’s going to wait for a few weeks, and maybe it may not be necessary to put tariffs,” she added.
Trump, on Saturday, said that his meeting in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin “went really well.”
