Trump's Ukraine Ultimatum Putin's on a Two-Week Clock!

Trump Sets a Two-Week Deadline for Putin on Ukraine: A Shift in Strategy?

Former US President Donald Trump has seemingly issued a "two-week" ultimatum to Vladimir Putin regarding the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This comes amidst escalating violence and growing concerns over the Kremlin's commitment to finding a peaceful resolution.

Speaking to reporters, Trump stated, "I'll let you know in about two weeks. Within two weeks. We're gonna find out whether or not (Putin is) tapping us along or not. And if he is, we'll respond a little bit differently." This statement suggests a potential change in approach, hinting at a more assertive stance if Putin is perceived as insincere in his engagement.

Trump's comments follow a series of increasingly critical social media posts where he described Putin's actions as "absolutely crazy" and accused him of "playing with fire" in light of the intensified attacks on Ukraine, including the deadly strikes on Kyiv.

Key Points to Consider:

• Escalating Violence: Recent Russian bombardments have been described as some of the largest and deadliest since the start of the conflict.
• Trump's Frustration: These remarks are indicative of Trump's mounting frustration with the perceived lack of progress in negotiations.
• Failed Mediation Attempts: Repeated efforts by the US to broker a deal between Russia and Ukraine appear to be faltering.

A Timeline of Recent Events:

1. Recent Phone Call: A two-hour phone call between Trump and Putin was described as "very well" by the US President.
2. Unfulfilled Promise: Putin initially expressed readiness to collaborate with Ukraine on a "memorandum on a possible future peace agreement."
3. Renewed Attacks: Just a week later, Russia launched a massive assault on Kyiv, deploying hundreds of drones and missiles.
4. No Memorandum: As of yet, no such memorandum has been produced by Russia.

While Trump's pronouncements suggest a tougher stance, questions remain about their effectiveness. Historically, similar threats haven't prompted significant concessions from Moscow. Furthermore, some critics point to past actions, such as the temporary suspension of US military aid to Kyiv, as evidence of a bias towards Russia.

The White House maintains that it hasn't appeased Moscow, emphasizing that Biden-era sanctions against Russia remain in effect. However, the current mediation strategy appears to have yielded limited results.

Kremlin's Response:

• "Emotional Overload": The Kremlin dismissed Trump's earlier critical comments as being "connected to an emotional overload."
• Lack of Information: Putin aide Yury Ushakov suggested Trump was "not sufficiently informed about what is really happening," citing alleged Ukrainian attacks on Russian cities.

Meanwhile, Germany has pledged to assist Ukraine in producing long-range missiles, a move that the Kremlin has warned against, stating it would harm peace efforts.

Russia's Shifting Demands: Since renewed US-Russia contacts in February, Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov have seemingly increased their demands, including territorial concessions from Ukraine and US recognition of Crimea as Russian territory. Michael McFaul, former US ambassador to Moscow, has characterized these demands as a "poison pill" designed to sabotage negotiations.

The conflict has already resulted in immense suffering, with tens of thousands of lives lost and significant devastation across eastern and southern Ukraine. Russia currently controls approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which it annexed in 2014.

As the "two-week" deadline approaches, the world watches closely to see if Trump's words will translate into tangible action and whether this new approach will break the deadlock and pave the way for a resolution to this devastating conflict. The coming days will be crucial in determining the future trajectory of the war and the prospects for peace in the region.

Tags: Trump, Putin, Ukraine, Russia, Deadline, War, US President, Social Media, Attacks, Kyiv

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyn3vqex47o