**Trump Sets Urgent Deadline for Ukraine Ceasefire; Concerns Mount Over Russia's Response**

Trump criticizes Putin's actions and warns of potential sanctions, as negotiations seem increasingly unlikely.

In a bold statement during a news conference in Scotland, former President Donald Trump set a new ultimatum for Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, demanding it within "ten or 12 days" starting from Monday. Expressing his disappointment with President Vladimir Putin, Trump emphasized that there was "no reason" to prolong the suffering, as peace efforts have stalled.

This latest deadline marks a significant revision from Trump's previous statement two weeks ago, where he indicated that Russia had 50 days to cease hostilities or face severe tariffs. Speaking with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump reiterated his threat to impose secondary tariffs on Moscow that could reach up to 100%, potentially crippling Russia's economy by making their goods unaffordable in the U.S. market.

In his address, Trump lamented the stark contrast between Putin's assurances of peace and ongoing missile attacks on Ukrainian cities, stating, "We were going to have a ceasefire… and all of a sudden you have missiles flying into Kyiv." Although he praised previous interactions with Putin, Trump expressed frustration, declaring, "I'm not gonna talk anymore," and suggested that negotiations were now at a critical point.

Russian officials have yet to respond directly to Trump's new timeline. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov previously remarked on the seriousness of Trump's 50-day deadline but noted that Moscow needed time to evaluate its implications. In the meantime, Russian MP Andrey Gurulyov dismissed Trump’s ultimatum, claiming such measures would no longer yield results either on the battlefield or in Moscow.

Despite Ukraine's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, praising Trump's message of "peace through strength," the situation remains dire as Russia intensifies its military offensive with drone attacks and missile strikes across Ukraine. As the conflict nears its fourth year, the possibility of reaching a ceasefire agreement within the proposed timeline appears increasingly slim, with Ukraine standing firm against Russia's preconditions for peace. Negotiations have made little headway, with the latest round of talks barely lasting an hour, signaling that a real breakthrough is far from certain.