Trump appears to set Putin 'two-week' deadline on Ukraine

 

Trump Sets Two-Week Ultimatum for Putin Amid Escalating Russian Attacks on Ukraine

President Donald Trump has appeared to issue a two-week deadline to Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that the U.S. would change its approach if Moscow continues to stall peace efforts.

As Russian forces intensified their assault on Ukraine, Trump was asked in the Oval Office whether he believed Putin was genuinely seeking an end to the war.

“I can’t say that right now, but I’ll let you know in about two weeks,” Trump told reporters, signaling growing frustration and hinting at a shift in U.S. policy if progress isn’t made soon.

Since Sunday, Trump has taken to social media to sharply criticize Putin, saying the Russian leader has gone “absolutely crazy” and is “playing with fire” following a surge in Russian missile and drone strikes. Ukrainian officials report that recent attacks on Kyiv were among the deadliest since the war began over three years ago, with at least 13 civilians killed and dozens injured—including children—over the weekend.

Despite the devastation, Russian bombardments have continued unabated through the week.

When pressed about whether he believes Putin is stalling negotiations, Trump reiterated: “Within two weeks, we’re going to find out if he’s stringing us along. If he is, we’ll respond a little differently.”

Trump’s remarks reflect mounting disappointment with diplomatic efforts, including a recent two-hour phone call with Putin. Though Trump initially described the conversation as going “very well,” the Kremlin has yet to follow through on its promise to draft a memorandum outlining potential peace terms.

That call occurred just one week before Russia launched a new wave of strikes on Ukrainian cities, involving hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles. No draft memorandum has materialized since.

So far, Trump’s warnings have failed to sway Moscow. And while the White House under Trump has pushed Ukraine to make concessions toward a ceasefire, including an eight-day suspension of military aid in March, it has not publicly demanded any significant steps from Russia.

The administration denies accusations of appeasing the Kremlin, emphasizing that sanctions from the Biden era remain in effect. But critics say the Trump team’s mediation approach has emboldened Putin rather than curbing his aggression.

Following the latest attacks, Trump posted on Truth Social that “something has happened” to Putin, a remark the Kremlin dismissed as emotional speculation. On Tuesday, Trump escalated his rhetoric, claiming Putin was “playing with fire” and suggesting Russia would be in far worse shape if not for Trump’s leadership.

A Kremlin adviser brushed off Trump’s comments, claiming he lacks a full understanding of the conflict. Putin aide Yury Ushakov told Russian state television that Trump is unaware of what he described as frequent “terrorist attacks” by Ukraine on Russian territory.

Meanwhile, European leaders are stepping up their support for Ukraine. On Wednesday, Germany’s new chancellor, Friedrich Merz, pledged to help Kyiv develop long-range missile capabilities. The Kremlin warned that lifting restrictions on Ukraine’s missile range would be a dangerous escalation that could derail any hope of a political resolution.

As Moscow digs in, Trump has repeatedly softened his earlier demands. His original call for a 30-day ceasefire—accepted only by Ukraine—has shifted into calls for a direct summit with Putin in hopes of reaching a breakthrough.

In the months since the U.S. resumed dialogue with Moscow in February, Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov have raised their demands. These now include Ukraine ceding territory not currently under Russian occupation and U.S. recognition of Crimea as part of Russia—positions analysts say are designed to sabotage any realistic peace process.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul called Russia’s demands a “poison pill,” arguing they are deliberately unrealistic, meant to derail talks and pin the blame on Kyiv.

The war has already taken tens of thousands of lives and left eastern and southern Ukraine in ruins. Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of stalling peace efforts and failing to deliver the promised memorandum after talks in Istanbul. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed the document is in its “final stages,” but no progress has been reported.