Trump sets new deadline of ‘10 or 12 days’ for Russia to act on Ukraine
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US President Donald Trump (right) and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaking to the media at Mr Trump's golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland, on July 28.
PHOTO: EPA
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- Trump set a 10-12 day deadline for Russia to make progress in Ukraine, threatening sanctions if unmet. He expressed disappointment in Putin and shortened a previous 50-day deadline.
- Medvedev warned Trump's "ultimatums" risk war with the US, while Zelensky thanked Trump for his determination and focus on saving lives.
- Trump indicated potential sanctions and tariffs for Russia if demands aren't met, expressing frustration with Putin's continued attacks despite peace efforts.
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TURNBERRY, Scotland - US President Donald Trump on July 28 set a new deadline of 10 or 12 days for Russia to make progress towards ending its war in Ukraine or face consequences, underscoring frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the 3½-year-old conflict.
Mr Trump has threatened sanctions on Russia and buyers of its exports unless progress is made.
The fresh deadline suggests the US President is prepared to move forward on those threats after previous hesitation to do so.
Speaking in Scotland, where he is holding meetings with European leaders and playing golf, Mr Trump said he was disappointed in Mr Putin and shortening a 50-day deadline he had set on the issue earlier in July.
“I’m going to make a new deadline of about... 10 or 12 days from today,” Mr Trump told reporters during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
“There’s no reason in waiting... We just don’t see any progress being made.”
Asked about Mr Trump’s statement on July 29 during a conference call with reporters, the Kremlin kept its remarks short.
“We have taken note of President Trump’s statement yesterday. The special military operation continues,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, employing the term that Moscow uses for its war effort in Ukraine. “We remain committed to a peace process to resolve the conflict around Ukraine and to ensure our interests in the course of this settlement.”
In a post on X, former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of Mr Putin, said Mr Trump was playing “a game of ultimatums” that could lead to a war involving the US.
Mr Medvedev wrote: “Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with (Trump’s) own country.”
Ukraine welcomed Mr Trump’s statement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised Mr Trump’s “expressed determination” in calling for a shortened deadline.
“Clear stance and expressed determination by @POTUS – right on time, when a lot can change through strength for real peace,” Mr Zelensky wrote on social media platform X.
“I thank President Trump for his focus on saving lives and stopping this horrible war.”
In his nightly video address, Mr Zelensky again praised Mr Trump’s “particularly significant” statement in the light of Russia’s “constant attempts to inflict pain on Ukraine” through air strikes on its cities. Ukraine, he said, saw the imposition of tough sanctions on Russia as a “key element” in ending the war.
“Russia pays attention to sanctions, pays attention to such losses,” he said. “Ukraine is ready to work productively with the United States, to work with President Trump to end this war with dignity and a secure, lasting peace.”
Mr Andriy Yermak, Mr Zelensky’s chief of staff, earlier thanked Mr Trump in a social media post for “standing firm and delivering a clear message of peace through strength”.
Mr Trump, who has in the past expressed annoyance also with Mr Zelensky, has not always followed tough talk about Mr Putin with action, citing what he deems a good relationship that the two men had previously.
On July 28, Mr Trump indicated he was not interested in more talks with Mr Putin. He said sanctions and tariffs would be used as penalties for Moscow if it did not meet his demands.
“There’s no reason to wait. If you know what the answer is going to be, why wait? And it would be sanctions and maybe tariffs, secondary tariffs,” Mr Trump said. “I don’t want to do that to Russia. I love the Russian people.”
Ukraine had proposed a summit between Mr Putin and Mr Zelensky before the end of August, but the Kremlin has said that timeline was unlikely and that a meeting could happen only as a final step to clinch peace. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on July 26 that if the West wanted real peace with Ukraine, it would stop supplying Kyiv with weapons.
Mr Trump has repeatedly voiced exasperation with Mr Putin for pursuing attacks on Ukraine despite US efforts to end the war.
The US President has played up successes in other parts of the world where the United States has helped to broker peace agreements and has been flattered by some leaders who suggest he should be given the Nobel Peace Prize.
“I’m disappointed in President Putin,” Mr Trump said on July 28. “I’m going to reduce that 50 days that I gave him to a lesser number because I think I already know the answer, what’s going to happen.”
Mr Trump, who is also struggling to achieve a peace deal in Gaza, has touted his role in ending conflicts between India and Pakistan as well as Rwanda and Congo. Before returning to the White House in January, he campaigned on a promise to end Russia’s conflict with Ukraine in a day.
“We thought we had that settled numerous times, and then President Putin goes out and starts launching rockets into some city like Kyiv and kills a lot of people in a nursing home or whatever,” Mr Trump said.
“And I say that’s not the way to do it.” REUTERS
