Trump Threatens Russia With Sanctions Within 12 Days
By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief
TURNBERRY, SCOTLAND (Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald J. Trump on Monday threatened to impose unprecedented sanctions on Russia within “10 or 12 days” unless Moscow signs a peace deal with Ukraine to end Europe’s deadliest conflict since the Second World War.
Speaking alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, Trump made clear he wants to distance himself from the perception of a previously cozy relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that the timeline for a peace deal has now accelerated.
“I’m going to make a new deadline of about 10, 10 or 12 days from today,” Trump said in response to a question. “There’s no reason in waiting. There’s no reason in waiting. It’s 50 days. I want to be generous, but we just don’t see any progress being made.”
Last week, Trump suggested he could impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on Russia’s trading partners if Putin doesn’t halt hostilities within the next six weeks.
However, critics note that Russia’s primary trading partners are China and India—two nations with whom the Trump administration is engaged in sensitive negotiations over tariffs and market access.
Russian and Ukrainian diplomats met in Istanbul, Turkey, last week but achieved little beyond an agreement on a prisoner exchange. Ukraine proposed a summit between President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Putin by the end of August. However, Russia responded that such a meeting would only be appropriate if it resulted in a final agreement.
The Istanbul gathering marked the third round of talks, but despite Trump’s repeated encouragements, Putin has not attended any of the meetings.
NEW TONE
Trump’s recent remarks underscore a shift in tone from what critics had previously described as an overly conciliatory posture toward Moscow.
Earlier Monday, Trump expressed disappointment in Putin’s actions.
“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. You have bodies lying all over the street, and I say that’s not the way to do it. So we’ll see what happens with that.”
Two weeks ago, Trump had already pledged a new round of punishing sanctions should Putin fail to initiate a ceasefire for negotiations.
That announcement on July 15 came during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, during which the U.S. also committed to facilitating the purchase of billions of dollars in military aid—including Patriot missile defense systems—for Ukraine.
U.S. diplomats have reportedly urged China to halt exports of dual-use goods, which Washington says are bolstering Russia’s military-industrial complex.
In addition to Prime Minister Starmer, Trump hosted the European Union’s executive European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Turnberry. The war in Ukraine and global trade tensions topped the agenda.
POLITICAL LIABILITY
The ongoing armed conflict remains a political liability for Trump, who has repeatedly claimed on the campaign trail that he could end the war “within a day.” Though Trump suggested several times that he and Putin had come close to reaching a ceasefire, a final agreement has remained elusive.
Adding to the difficulties are indications that Ukraine’s depleted armed forces continue to lose ground, though analysts caution there is no immediate threat of a total frontline collapse.
President Zelenskyy confirmed he spoke with Trump on Monday to discuss additional military support, specifically the supply of Patriot missiles, which are crucial to defending Ukrainian cities from airstrikes.
“We discussed … the necessary measures and decisions to provide greater protection for people from Russian attacks and strengthen our positions,” Zelenskyy wrote on social media.
“We agreed to talk more often and coordinate our steps in the future.”
Yet with more than 1 million people reportedly killed and injured, pressure is mounting to end the war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
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