'Each new ultimatum is a threat' — Russia responds to Trump's shortened Ukraine deal deadline

 

Kremlin Pushes Back Against Trump’s 10-Day Peace Ultimatum on Ukraine

As former U.S. President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Moscow to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine, Russian officials are pushing back strongly, accusing him of issuing ultimatums that they believe could escalate tensions further.

Speaking to reporters on July 30, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to Trump’s new 10-day deadline—shortened from an original 50-day window—by emphasizing that Russia has long adapted to Western sanctions. “Our economy has developed a certain resilience. We’ve been living under restrictions for years,” Peskov said, adding that Trump’s threat of new tariffs was unlikely to have a meaningful impact.

Trump has openly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s continued military actions, citing deadly strikes in civilian areas such as Kyiv. On July 28, he said: “We thought this was settled, but then Putin starts launching rockets... and kills people in a nursing home.” He added that he no longer sees a reason to delay action and is no longer interested in negotiating directly with Putin.

Russian officials, however, view Trump’s timeline as confrontational. Former President and current Deputy Chair of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev described the move as reckless, stating: “Russia is not Israel or even Iran. Every new ultimatum increases the risk—not of a war with Ukraine, but with America.”

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova called Trump’s remarks counterproductive: “Threats do not lead to normalization. If we’re aiming for peace, threats must become a thing of the past.”

Other senior Russian figures echoed these sentiments:

Leonid Slutsky, head of the parliament’s foreign affairs committee, warned that “Speaking in ultimatums is both useless and harmful,” claiming that Russia’s objectives in Ukraine remain unchanged and will be achieved “either through negotiations or by military means.”

Dmitry Belik, another member of the same committee, said Trump’s “tough guy” approach conceals a failure to sway Moscow. “He knows additional sanctions won’t work. We’ll bear the costs, but our goals remain.”

Vladimir Rogov, a regional official aligned with the Kremlin, described Trump’s demand as part of his usual negotiating style: “Ask for everything to get something.” But he also added, “We don’t care about his ultimatums.”

Aleksey Pushkov, a Russian senator, highlighted potential fallout, particularly in global energy markets, if the U.S. pursues secondary sanctions on countries that buy Russian oil. “There will be consequences,” he said.

Andrey Kartapolov, head of the defense committee in Russia’s parliament, dismissed the former U.S. president’s pressure entirely: “Trump can issue ultimatums to his staff, not to Russia.”

Mikhail Sheremet, another parliamentarian, emphasized the need for equal dialogue: “The U.S. must recognize today’s multipolar world. Russia is not to be treated like a student scolded for missing homework.”

As Trump continues to campaign on promises of swift foreign policy action, including pressuring Russia to end its war in Ukraine, the Kremlin appears determined to frame his approach as unproductive and disconnected from the current geopolitical landscape. Russian officials maintain that any resolution will come only on their terms—and only with President Putin’s approval.