By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday met in Alaska to discuss the end of the Ukraine war, but no breakthrough was reached, according to the White House officials on Saturday in a press statement issued.
Trump called the talks “very well,” he hinted at delaying tariffs on nations buying Russian oil, including India, as Washington reassesses its strategy.
He indicated that retaliatory tariffs on nations buying Russian oil may be relooked at in the coming weeks but ruled out any immediate measures.
Trump said the talks went “very well” and hinted that sanctions could be postponed.
“Well, because of what happened today, I think I don’t have to think about that (tariffs),” Trump told Fox News host Sean Hannity.
“Now, I may have to think about it in two weeks or three weeks or something, but we don’t have to think about that right now.”
Trump’s comments came after his threat to impose secondary sanctions and 100% tariffs on Russia if Moscow failed to agree to a peace deal within 50 days.
India has been hit, with Washington levying retaliatory duties of up to 50% on its continued oil trade with Moscow half of which are in force, with the remainder set to take effect on August 27.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent had cautioned that penalties on India could intensify if the Alaska summit produced no breakthrough.
His latest comments showed a temporary relief, as the White House reassesses its strategy over Russia’s oil exports.
Trump and Putin met in Alaska on Friday to discuss the end of Russia’s military operations in Ukraine, but there was no breakthrough, media added.
