TURNBERRY, United Kingdom: Donald Trump on Monday issued a dramatic new ultimatum to Russia to end the war in Ukraine within “10 or 12 days” or face tough new sanctions, as he met UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland.
Saying he was not very interested in talking to Russian President Vladimir Putin anymore, the US President also shifted his tone on Gaza, acknowledging there were signs of “real starvation” in the conflict-ravaged Palestinian territory.
Trump, sitting alongside Starmer at the US leader’s luxury golf resort in Turnberry, south of Glasgow, said he was “very disappointed” with Putin over continued strikes against Ukrainian targets.
The US President announced that he was reducing an earlier 50-day deadline for Putin to bring the Ukraine conflict to an end to “about 10 or 12 days”, starting immediately.
“There is no reason in waiting,” Trump said, adding he thought Putin would want to end things quickly.
“I really felt it was going to end. But every time I think it’s going to end he kills people.
“I’m not so interested in talking (to him) anymore,” he added.
Trump said he will likely announce the new deadline by July 29.
“I want to be generous, but we just don’t see any progress being made,” he said. “It would be sanctions and maybe tariffs ‒ secondary tariffs.”
Ukraine swiftly praised the US president’s stand and thanked Trump for “standing firm and delivering a clear message of peace through strength”.
“When America leads with strength, others think twice,” Ukrainian presidential aide Andriy Yermak said on social media.
50 days to reach peace deal
Trump on July 14 announced the United States would put secondary tariffs on countries that do business with Russia if a peace deal is not reached within 50 days, which falls on September 2.
Trump’s new, shortened deadline would be sometime between August 7 and 11.
“He’s got to make a deal,” Trump said of Putin. “Too many people are dying it. It’s a really bloody war.”
When Trump’s second term began, the president placed equal blame on Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the Ukraine war.
But Trump has zeroed in on Putin in recent weeks as the Russian leader repeatedly rebuffs the American president’s attempts to broker a ceasefire.
Losing patience with Putin, Trump has accused his Russian counterpart of being open to a ceasefire during private conversations, only to carry out attacks on Ukraine afterwards.
“You would think, based on common sense, you would think he would want to make a deal. We’ll find out,” Trump said.
