The Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. expressed hope for the Friday meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to be effective and have great results. Ambassador Oksana Markarova expressed her appreciation for Trump’s push to end the war and Vice President Vance’s recent trip to England to discuss peace efforts. She reiterated Trump’s raising tariffs on India as a confidence factor, allowing the U.S. to find a solution to stop Russia’s aggression.
Trump announced a 25% increase in tariffs on India due to its buying of Russian oil, bringing the total tariffs on the Southeast Asian country to 50%. The president will meet with Putin in Alaska on Friday for talks on ending the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not currently expected to attend the meeting, but U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said it is possible that Zelensky may attend. Moscow has shared a ceasefire agreement with the Trump administration, demanding control of Eastern Ukraine in exchange for a halt in the three-year-long war. Zelensky adamantly opposed the new deal, stating that decisions against Ukraine and without Ukraine are stillborn decisions against peace.
