Putin Briefs PM Modi on Alaska Summit with Trump

Russian President Vladimir Putin called Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday to share insights from his recent summit with US President Donald Trump in Alaska, which focused on the ongoing Ukraine conflict. The three-hour meeting on August 15 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage ended without a ceasefire agreement, despite high expectations for a breakthrough. Modi reiterated India’s steadfast commitment to a peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy during the conversation.

In a post on X, Modi expressed gratitude to Putin, stating, “Thank my friend, President Putin, for his phone call and for sharing insights on his recent meeting with President Trump in Alaska. India has consistently called for a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict and supports all efforts in this regard. I look forward to our continued exchanges in the days to come.” The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed that Putin provided a detailed assessment of the Alaska talks, while Modi emphasized India’s support for diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The discussion also covered strengthening the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia, touching on bilateral cooperation in areas like trade, energy, and defense. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had previously welcomed the Alaska summit on August 16, praising both leaders for their initiative to pursue peace. “Their leadership in the pursuit of peace is highly commendable,” the MEA noted.

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India has consistently advocated for de-escalation in Ukraine. During his July 2024 visit to Moscow, Modi told Putin that battlefield solutions are untenable and urged peaceful negotiations. In August 2024, Modi visited Kyiv, conveying to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that both sides must engage urgently to end hostilities. “India was on the side of peace since the beginning of the conflict,” Modi affirmed. His recent call with Zelenskyy on August 15, where he exchanged Independence Day greetings, further underscored India’s balanced approach, engaging both Russian and Ukrainian leaders.

The Alaska summit, the first US-Russia meeting since the war’s onset, drew global attention, with reports indicating Putin expressed openness to a NATO-like security guarantee for Ukraine, though no concrete deal emerged. Modi’s ongoing dialogue with Putin reflects India’s growing role as a mediator in global conflicts, leveraging its neutral stance and strategic ties with both Moscow and Western capitals.

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