Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint.. I’m Nelson John and here are today’s top stories.

Trump Pushes Biggest Ukraine Breakthrough Yet

After nearly four years of war, Washington may have delivered the most concrete peace opening so far. On Monday, President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and seven top European leaders to discuss security guarantees for Kyiv. The real headline came right after: Trump called Vladimir Putin for a 40-minute conversation and set the stage for a potential Putin–Zelensky face-to-face within two weeks. Trump later said he hopes to follow that with a trilateral summit including himself. Zelensky described his meeting with Trump as the “best conversation so far,” while NATO’s Mark Rutte hailed Trump’s offer of NATO-style guarantees as a “breakthrough.” France’s Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Friedrich Merz called for Europe’s role in shaping long-term security and pressed for a ceasefire as a first step. Italy’s Giorgia Meloni and Britain’s Keir Starmer stressed that only ironclad safeguards can deliver lasting peace. Finland’s Alexander Stubb noted more progress in two weeks “than in three and a half years.” For the first time in years, the US, EU, and Ukraine seem aligned on a peace path.

India’s Big GST Reset Before Diwali

On Independence Day, the Finance Ministry announced sweeping reforms to simplify GST. Instead of four slabs—5, 12, 18 and 28 percent—the new plan proposes just three: 5, 18, and a 40 percent “sin tax” for items like tobacco and beer. Nearly all goods in the 12 percent bracket could drop to 5 percent, making groceries, medicines, footwear, and even appliances cheaper. Most 28 percent items would shift to 18 percent, cutting costs on furniture, electronics and more. 

Putin Calls Modi Amid Peace Push

While Trump worked the phones with Putin, Moscow also reached out to New Delhi. On Monday, Putin called Prime Minister Narendra Modi, briefing him on the Alaska talks with Trump. Modi reiterated India’s consistent line—support for dialogue and a peaceful settlement. The timing was striking: just hours before Trump’s White House meeting with Zelensky. Yet this diplomatic outreach comes with pressure. 

India–China Relations Thawing

For the first time since the bloody Galwan clashes of 2020, India and China are signaling a thaw. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in New Delhi, insisting that peace and de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control are essential. “Differences must not become disputes,” he said. Already, concrete steps are visible: the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra has resumed after five years, India has reopened tourist visas for Chinese nationals, and talks are underway to restart direct flights. Wang Yi pointed to “shared confidence” driving progress and said both nations can offer stability to Asia and the world. The real test could come later this month, when Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping are expected to meet on the sidelines of the SCO Summit—potentially turning a painful page in bilateral ties.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices