Time to meet

Russia, the US, India, sectoral tariffs, Italy, Colombia, and Peru.

The Meeting, Pavel Kovalevsky, 1871, oil on canvas, State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

Hello,

Here are the five things you need to know today:

• RUSSIA. UNITED STATES. Trump and Putin agree to meet. Maybe.

• INDIA. UNITED STATES. Washington’s bullying is shocking but familiar.

• SECTORAL DUTIES. UNITED STATES. The trade war's next round begins.

• ITALY. Rome plans a bridge and calls it a weapon.

• COLOMBIA. PERU. An old and obscure dispute is rediscovered.

And don’t forget to connect with me on LinkedIn.

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RUSSIA. UNITED STATES. To be confirmed

Trump and Putin agree to meet. Maybe.

The White House said a meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin could happen as soon as next week after "very productive" talks with envoy Steve Witkoff. Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia seemed "more inclined" to a ceasefire.

INTELLIGENCE. Logistics would normally dictate a longer timeframe. Presidents are busy. Putin can't visit many places. Trump's travel often requires months of planning. Putin may use these reasons to buy more time. Trump has reiterated the threat of secondary tariffs to hurry him along, but so far these seem likely confined to India, and at the additional rate of 25%, not 100% (let alone the 500% proposed by the Senate). Oil prices were slightly higher at open.

FOR BUSINESS. A meeting could foreseeably take place in Riyadh, where US-Russia talks were first held this year. There are few other neutral venues. An ICC warrant precludes most of the world. Even if they meet, a ceasefire will take time. A three-way meeting with Zelensky would need to be held. Any deal to satisfy respective security concerns, real and alleged, will be complex. The Kremlin reportedly expects Ukraine to hold out for only another three months.

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INDIA. UNITED STATES. Karma’s a tariff

Washington’s bullying is shocking but familiar.

Narendra Modi said Thursday he would not compromise India's farmers after the US imposed additional duties of 25%, to take effect on 28 August. On 31 August, Modi would visit China for the first time in seven years, local media said.

INTELLIGENCE. The 21-day grace period suggests the duties are contingent on