In brief
Former President Donald Trump has placed a 10 to 12-day deadline for Russia to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine, asserting that the lack of progress in the ongoing conflict has made it imperative for a resolution.
Former President Donald Trump has taken a strong stance regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, demanding that Russia agree to a ceasefire within a tight timeframe of "ten or 12 days” from Monday. He expressed disappointment in President Putin’s prolonged inaction, stating there is "no reason" to wait despite the ongoing war showing no signs of resolution. Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky has responded positively, calling the deadline adjustment "extremely significant.”During a press conference in Scotland, Trump reiterated his frustration with the lack of peace negotiations and threatening to impose sanctions and secondary tariffs on Russia if there is no compliance. He had previously stated a 50-day deadline for Russia to end the war, warning of severe economic repercussions for countries negotiating with Moscow.Zelensky publicly thanked Trump on social media, highlighting the importance of the new deadline and noting the US president’s clear and determined approach to halting the devastating conflict. The proposed tariffs, which Trump described, could impose 100% taxes on goods traded with Russia, making them prohibitively expensive and likely diverting business back to more cost-effective sources.Meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump expressed strong disapproval of Russia’s military actions in Ukraine, emphasizing the discord between Putin's diplomatic assurances during their discussions and the reality of missile strikes on Ukrainian cities. He expressed his weariness with the situation, stating he was "no longer interested in talks," a sentiment that was swiftly picked up by Russian media.While Trump’s previous ultimatum was labeled "very serious" by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, there has been no formal comment from Putin regarding the new deadline. Meanwhile, Russian MP Andrey Gurulyov dismissed Trump's demands, arguing that such ultimatums held no power over Moscow's military strategies.Trump's initial suggestion to shorten the negotiation timeline was complemented by Ukrainian officials, who perceived it as a strong message that resonated with their understanding of power dynamics in diplomatic negotiations. In recent months, Russia has intensified its military assault on Ukraine, raising questions about the possibility of achieving any meaningful ceasefire in just twelve days.The longstanding conflict has seen several rounds of ceasefire discussions that resulted only in prisoner exchanges, without any significant agreements towards achieving peace. Ukraine remains firm on rejecting Russia's demands to become a neutral nation and reduce its military aspirations, a position staunchly supported by its Western allies. The last round of talks yielded no breakthroughs, and analysts remain skeptical about the feasibility of reaching an agreement to cease hostilities within the specified timeframe.
