In brief
Trump calls for a ceasefire within 10-12 days, threatening severe tariffs if Russia does not comply, while trust in Putin's commitments fades.
In a recent press briefing in Scotland, former President Donald Trump announced a shortened timeline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, stating that he expects an agreement within "ten or 12 days" from Monday. Trump expressed disappointment with President Vladimir Putin's lack of progress toward peace, emphasizing that there is "no reason" to delay further. This new deadline is a shift from Trump’s prior 50-day ultimatum he delivered two weeks earlier, which threatened hefty tariffs on Russian goods if the conflict continued.During the conference, Trump indicated he would confirm the new deadline imminently, reiterating his stance to introduce sanctions and secondary tariffs on Moscow. The tariffs could escalate to a staggering 100%, effectively making Russian exports prohibitively expensive for U.S. businesses. This situation could lead them to seek cheaper alternatives, significantly affecting revenue for both Russia and its trading partners.Trump also shared his dissatisfaction regarding Putin's military actions in Ukraine, stressing the disconnect between Putin's statements during their discussions and the continued missile strikes on Ukrainian cities. "We were supposed to have a ceasefire and maybe peace, and suddenly there are missiles flying into Kyiv," Trump lamented, asserting that his faith in dialogue was dwindling.Despite the grim outlook, with Trump declaring he was "no longer interested in talks," Russian authorities brushed off his demands. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov previously described Trump's earlier deadline as "very serious" but emphasized the necessity of analyzing its implications. On the ground, the conflict appears to intensify, with Russian attacks escalating alongside summer offensives in eastern Ukraine.Ukrainian officials, responding to Trump’s latest remarks, noted the significance of his message, stating it reflects a stance of "peace through strength." However, amidst ongoing hostilities and Russia’s unyielding preconditions for peace—demanding Ukraine renounce NATO ambitions and become a neutral state—achieving a ceasefire within such a brief timeframe remains an elusive prospect. Past negotiations held under Turkish mediation have failed to yield breakthroughs, emphasizing the difficulty in achieving peace after three and a half years of conflict.
