Putin doubts efficiency of Trump’s ultimatum to finish the warfare, sources say

[ad_1] By Darya Korsunskaya, Andrew Osborn and Mark Trevelyan

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin is unlikely to bow to a sanctions ultimatum expiring this Friday from U.S. President Donald Trump, and retains the objective of capturing 4 areas of Ukraine of their entirety, sources near the Kremlin informed Reuters.

Trump has threatened to hit Russia with new sanctions and impose 100% tariffs on international locations that purchase its oil - of which the most important are China and India - except Putin agrees to a ceasefire in Russia's warfare in Ukraine.

Putin's willpower to maintain going is prompted by his perception that Russia is profitable and by scepticism that but extra U.S. sanctions could have a lot of an affect after successive waves of financial penalties throughout 3-1/2 years of warfare, in accordance with three sources conversant in discussions within the Kremlin.

The Russian chief doesn't need to anger Trump, and he realises that he could also be spurning an opportunity to enhance relations with Washington and the West, however his warfare targets take priority, two of the sources mentioned.

Putin's objective is to totally seize the Ukrainian areas of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, which Russia has claimed as its personal, after which to speak a couple of peace settlement, one of many sources mentioned.

"If Putin have been in a position to absolutely occupy these 4 areas which he has claimed for Russia he may declare that his warfare in Ukraine had reached his goals," mentioned James Rodgers, writer of the forthcoming e-book "The Return of Russia".

The present talks course of, wherein Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have met 3 times since Could, was an try by Moscow to persuade Trump that Putin was not rejecting peace, the primary supply mentioned, including that the talks have been devoid of actual substance other than discussions on humanitarian exchanges.

Russia says it's severe about agreeing a long-term peace within the negotiations however that the method is sophisticated as a result of the 2 sides' stances are to this point aside. Putin final week described the talks as constructive.

Moscow’s said calls for embody a full Ukrainian withdrawal from the 4 areas and acceptance by Kyiv of impartial standing and limits on the scale of its army – calls for rejected by Ukraine.

In an indication that there could but be a possibility to strike a deal earlier than the deadline, Trump's particular envoy Steve Witkoff is predicted to go to Russia this week, following an escalation in rhetoric between Trump and Moscow over dangers of nuclear warfare. On Monday, Russia mentioned it was now not sure by a moratorium on short- and medium-range nuclear missiles.

The Kremlin didn't reply to a request for remark for this story. All of the sources spoke to Reuters on situation of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the state of affairs.

Trump, who prior to now has praised Putin and held out the prospect of profitable enterprise offers between their two international locations, has these days expressed rising impatience with the Russian president. He has complained about what he known as Putin's "bullshit" and described Russia's relentless bombing of Kyiv and different Ukrainian cities as "disgusting".

The Kremlin has mentioned it famous Trump's statements but it surely has declined to answer them.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko final week known as on the world to reply with "most strain" after the worst Russian air strike of the 12 months killed 31 folks in Kyiv, together with 5 youngsters, in what she known as Russia's response to Trump's deadline.

"President Trump desires to cease the killing, which is why he's promoting American-made weapons to NATO members and threatening Putin with biting tariffs and sanctions if he doesn't comply with a ceasefire," White Home spokeswoman Anna Kelly mentioned in response to a request for remark.

FORCES ADVANCE

The primary supply mentioned Putin was privately involved in regards to the current deterioration of U.S. ties. Putin nonetheless retains the hope that Russia can once more befriend America and commerce with the West, and "he's frightened" about Trump's irritation, this individual mentioned.

However with Moscow's forces advancing on the battlefield and Ukraine underneath heavy army strain, Putin doesn't imagine now's the time to finish the warfare, the supply mentioned, including that neither the Russian folks nor the military would perceive if he stops now.

Rodgers, the writer, mentioned Putin has invested his political status and legacy within the warfare in Ukraine.

"We all know from his earlier writings and statements that he sees himself as a part of a powerful custom of standing as much as the West and the remainder of world to defend Russia's pursuits," he mentioned.

The Kremlin chief values the connection with Trump and doesn't need to anger him, nonetheless, "he merely has a prime precedence - Putin can't afford to finish the warfare simply because Trump desires it," the second Russian supply mentioned.

A 3rd individual conversant in Kremlin considering additionally mentioned Russia needed to take all 4 areas and didn't see the logic in stopping at a time of battlefield beneficial properties throughout Russia's summer season offensive.

Ukraine has suffered a few of its greatest territorial losses of 2025 prior to now three months, together with 502 sq. kilometres in July, in accordance with Black Fowl Group, a Finland-based army evaluation centre. In whole, Russia has occupied round a fifth of Ukraine.

Russia's army Normal Workers has informed Putin that the Ukrainian entrance will crumble in two or three months, the primary individual mentioned.

Nevertheless, Russia’s current beneficial properties stay comparatively minor in purely territorial phrases, with solely 5,000 sq. kilometres (1,930 sq. miles) of Ukraine taken for the reason that begin of final 12 months, lower than 1% of the nation’s general territory, in accordance with a June report from the Middle for Strategic and Worldwide Research, a Washington-based suppose tank.

Ukrainian and Western army sources, acknowledge that Russia is making beneficial properties, however solely progressively and with heavy casualties. Russian warfare bloggers say Moscow's forces have been slowed down throughout its present summer season offensive in areas the place the terrain and dense city panorama favoured Ukraine, however assess that different areas must be sooner to take.

'HE'S MADE THREATS BEFORE'

Trump's sanctions risk was "painful and ugly," however not a disaster, the second supply mentioned. The third supply mentioned there was a sense in Moscow that "there's not rather more that they will do to us".

It was additionally not clear if Trump would comply with by way of on his ultimatum, this individual mentioned, including that "he is made threats earlier than" after which not acted, or modified his thoughts.

The supply additionally mentioned it was onerous to think about that China would cease shopping for Russian oil on directions from Trump, and that his actions risked backfiring by driving oil costs greater.

As a consequence of earlier rounds of sanctions, Russian oil and gasoline exporters have taken huge hits to their revenues, and international direct funding within the nation fell by 63% final 12 months, in accordance with U.N. commerce knowledge. Round $300 billion of central financial institution property have been frozen in international jurisdictions.

However Russia's means to wage warfare has been unimpeded, thanks partly to ammunition provides from North Korea and imports from China of dual-use elements which have sustained an enormous rise in weapons manufacturing. The Kremlin has repeatedly mentioned that Russia has some "immunity" to sanctions.

Trump has acknowledged Russia's ability in skirting the measures. "They're wily characters they usually're fairly good at avoiding sanctions, so we'll see what occurs," he informed reporters on the weekend, when requested what his response could be if Russia didn't comply with a ceasefire.

The primary Russian supply famous that Putin, in pursuing the battle, was turning his again on a U.S. provide made in March that Washington, in return for his settlement to a full ceasefire, would take away U.S. sanctions, recognise Russian possession of Crimea - annexed from Ukraine in 2014 - and acknowledge de facto Russian management of the territory captured by its forces since 2022.