On Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin reached out to leaders in India and China just before a scheduled meeting in Alaska on August 17th.
Putin contacted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, amid developments concerning trade relations. Trump indicated that a peace agreement must be sought, or else “secondary tariffs” could be imposed on key trading allies.
The Wall Street Journal noted that Putin is asking for significant territorial concessions from Ukraine as part of a potential ceasefire.
India is facing a new 25% tariff from the US on Russian oil purchases starting this month, adding to the existing mutual tariffs that took effect recently. Modi mentioned having a “very good detailed conversation” with Putin afterward.
During their discussion, Modi emphasized their commitment to enhancing the India-Russia strategic partnership. He expressed anticipation about hosting Putin later this year.
This call with Modi followed a meeting in Moscow between Putin and Ajit Doval, India’s national security adviser. India is resisting the impact of US tariffs, emphasizing the necessity of Russian oil to maintain stable energy prices.
Putin also spoke with Xi on Friday, elaborating on a previous discussion with a US envoy regarding the Ukrainian conflict. The Kremlin stated that Xi supports a long-term resolution to the crisis.
Beijing, having provided critical backing for Russia in the ongoing conflict, reaffirmed its commitment to promoting peace and dialogue.
The recent engagements come after a notably positive meeting between Putin and the US envoy, with Trump hinting that significant progress has been made.
Trump previously warned that if a ceasefire isn’t reached within two months, Russia could face severe tariffs, including a proposal for 100% secondary tariffs targeting nations conducting business with Russia.
When questioned about the situation, Trump underscored the urgency of reaching an agreement, signaling potential consequences for Russia if negotiations stall.
Later on Friday, Trump revealed via social media that he and Putin would meet in Alaska the following Friday.
At the White House, Trump elaborated that any exchange of territory between Russia and Ukraine is integral to a prospective peace negotiation.
He noted the complexity of the situation, pointing out the human cost of the conflict for both Russians and Ukrainians, and the challenges involved in territorial negotiations.
The Journal reported that Putin’s proposal includes Ukraine withdrawing its military from the eastern Donetsk region, allowing Russian control over Luhansk and Donetsk, and parts of Crimea. The next phase would require an agreement between Putin and Trump for a definitive peace deal.
A spokesperson for Witkov chose not to comment on recent developments.
Witkov engaged in discussions with high-ranking officials from various European nations, including Germany and France, on Thursday. An advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remarked that the officials were focusing on aligning their stances to attain sustainable peace in Ukraine as swiftly as possible.
He affirmed their readiness to collaborate effectively to prevent further loss of life and end the conflict.
Trump, during a briefing on Friday, emphasized the need for comprehensive preparations ahead of any agreement, indicating that a lot of work is still underway.
