President Donald Trump is turning up the heat on Russia’s Vladimir Putin, slashing the deadline to end the Ukraine invasion to a mere 10-12 days.
The New York Post reported that while speaking from his Turnberry club in Scotland, Trump expressed frustration with Putin’s empty promises, as missiles continue to rain on Ukrainian cities. This bold move signals a no-nonsense approach to a war that’s bled Europe dry.
Trump’s announcement on July 28, 2025, reset the clock from a 50-day ultimatum issued on July 14, demanding that Putin halt the invasion or face tougher economic sanctions.
The conflict, Europe’s bloodiest since World War II, has seen Ukrainian cities like Kharkiv and Kyiv battered by relentless Russian strikes. Trump’s decision reflects growing impatience with Putin’s failure to deliver on peace talks.
The original 50-day deadline aimed to push Russia toward a peace agreement, but recent events show little progress. Ukrainian rescuers battled fires in Kharkiv after a July 24 aerial attack, while a missile strike torched a home improvement store in Kamianske. Kropyvnytskyi also saw firefighters scrambling to save a damaged building, underscoring the war’s brutal toll.
Trump’s frustration stems from direct calls with Putin, where the Russian leader claimed a desire to end the conflict. “We have wonderful conversations,” Trump told Miranda Devine on July 27, 2025, only to see Kyiv bombed hours later. Such duplicity exposes Putin’s words as hollow, undermining trust in any Kremlin olive branch.
“And then I go home, I turn on the news, and I see that Kyiv has just been bombed,” Trump said, recounting his shock.
He’s right to feel played—promises of peace mean nothing when missiles keep flying. This betrayal has clearly pushed Trump to tighten the screws.
Three Ukraine-Russia meetings in Turkey, including a brief one on July 23, 2025, failed to secure a cease-fire. While prisoner swaps occurred, the talks collapsed in under an hour, showing Putin’s lack of seriousness. Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, open to direct negotiations, was rebuffed by the Kremlin’s preference for low-level staff.
Zelensky, speaking in Kyiv on July 17, 2025, called the 50-day timeline “scary” for Ukrainians facing daily threats. “Every day is scary,” he said, capturing the urgency of a nation under siege. His plea for faster U.S. sanctions aligns with Trump’s new, aggressive deadline.
“Putin has wasted President Trump’s time,” Zelensky added, a sharp jab at Russia’s stalling tactics.
He’s not wrong—diplomacy can’t work when one side bombs during talks. Zelensky’s call for action highlights the need for real pressure, not endless chatter.
Trump’s shortened timeline, announced on July 28, 2025, came after meeting UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Turnberry. “I’m not so interested in talking anymore,” Trump declared, signaling a shift from patience to action. This pivot could force Putin’s hand or expose his intransigence further.
Trump has yet to decide on additional sanctions or secondary tariffs on nations like China, India, and Brazil for buying Russian energy.
Such measures could cripple Russia’s war machine, but they risk global economic ripples. The hesitation shows Trump is weighing the costs of escalation carefully.
Zelensky urged the U.S. to “put some pressure” with sanctions, emphasizing speed. “The sooner, the faster it can be done, the better,” he said on July 17, 2025. His impatience is justified—every delay means more Ukrainian lives lost to Russian aggression.
Trump’s disappointment in Putin was candidly shared with Miranda Devine on “Pod Force One,” set for release on July 30, 2025. “I’m disappointed in him, I must be honest with you,” he admitted. That raw honesty cuts through diplomatic niceties, exposing Putin’s bad faith.
“We’ve had great conversations, but it hasn’t been followed up with, you know, just some very bad things have happened,” Trump said, reflecting on repeated betrayals. He thought deals were “settled” multiple times, only to see more attacks. It’s a classic Putin ploy—talk peace, wage war.
The war, now 41 months long, continues to devastate Ukraine, with no end in sight despite diplomatic efforts. Trump’s new 10-12 day deadline is a gamble to force progress or lay bare Russia’s refusal to negotiate. Either way, it’s a wake-up call to a world weary of this conflict.
