U.S. President Donald Trump has set a new deadline of 10 or 12 days for Russia to make progress toward ending the war in Ukraine or face consequences, underscoring frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the 3-1/2-year-old conflict. Trump has threatened sanctions on both Russia and buyers of its exports unless progress is made. The fresh deadline suggests the U.S. president is prepared to move forward on those threats after previous hesitation to do so.
In a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump expressed disappointment in Putin and shortening a 50-day deadline he had set earlier this month. He said that there was no reason in waiting, as there just don’t see any progress being made. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised Trump’s “particularly significant” statement as timely in trying to move forward to a peace settlement.
Trump has not always followed tough talk about Putin with action, citing what he deems a good relationship between the two men have had previously. On Monday, Trump indicated he was not interested in more talks with Putin and said sanctions and tariffs would be used as penalties for Moscow if it did not meet Trump’s demands. Ukraine had proposed a summit between Putin and Zelenskiy before the end of August, but the Kremlin has said that timeline was unlikely and that a meeting could only happen as a final step to clinch peace.
Trump has repeatedly voiced exasperation with Putin for pursuing attacks on Ukraine despite U.S. efforts to end the war. He has played up successes in other parts of the world where the United States has helped broker peace agreements and has been flattered by some leaders who suggest he should be given the Nobel Peace Prize.
