Putin not swayed by Trump's Ukraine battle ultimatum

[ad_1] Russian President Vladimir Putin has voiced hopes for additional peace talks with Ukraine - however careworn his troops had been "advancing on your entire entrance line", regardless of the specter of more durable US sanctions if a ceasefire was not agreed upon.

"All disappointments come up from inflated expectations," Putin mentioned, in an obvious reference to Trump's "disappointment" with the Russian chief for not bringing an finish to the battle.

Talking a day after one of many deadliest Russian air assaults on Kyiv, he repeated his calls for for Ukrainian neutrality and recognition of the occupied territories, which Ukraine views as a capitulation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned he was prepared to satisfy Putin "any time".

Talking on Friday on the Valaam Monastery on an island in north-western Russia, Putin mentioned he anticipated negotiations with Ukraine to proceed, including that he seen "negotiations positively".

However in a veiled reference to rising stress from Ukraine and its Western allies to conform to a long-term ceasefire, he mentioned: "As for any disappointments on the a part of anybody, all disappointments come up from inflated expectations.

"Our enemies and ill-wishers... now have one fiery ardour: to cease our advance [on the front line in Ukraine] at any price".

Ukraine and its allies have repeatedly accused Russia of stalling peace negotiations and rejecting any significant ceasefire, saying Moscow is making an attempt to grab extra Ukrainian territories.

Three rounds of Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul, Turkey, in current months ended with none main breakthrough. The 2 sides, nonetheless, agreed to swap a number of hundreds of prisoners of battle.

Talking shortly after Putin's feedback, Zelensky questioned whether or not Russia was displaying "critical readiness to finish the battle with dignity and set up a really lasting peace" or whether or not it was "simply an try to purchase extra time for battle and postpone sanctions".

In current weeks, Russia has intensified its lethal drone and missile strikes on Ukraine.

On Thursday, at the least 31 individuals - together with 5 kids - had been killed in a Russian aerial assault on the Ukrainian capital.

US President Donald Trump condemned Russia's actions, threatening new sanctions.

"Russia, I believe it is disgusting what they're doing," he instructed journalists.

When in July Trump introduced his unique 50-day deadline for Russia to finish the battle, Putin did not react. When that was diminished to 10-12 days, Putin mentioned nothing.

However on Friday the Kremlin chief left little doubt that he wouldn't be swayed by a White Home ultimatum.

Trump could declare to be "dissatisfied" with Putin for not making peace - however the Russian chief is unrepentant.

His visitor on the Valaam island, Belarus' authoritarian chief Alexander Lukashenko, was extra direct in his dismissal of Trump's deadline.

"50 days, 60 days, 10 days. You do not do politics like that," Lukashenko mentioned.

Expertise exhibits that, for Trump, deadlines will not be set in stone. However on paper, at the least, his newest deadline expires on 8 August.

If by then Russia hasn't signed as much as a ceasefire in Ukraine, it can face extra sanctions – so in principle will nations that purchase Russian oil.

However judging by what the Russian state media has been saying in current days, many in Moscow doubt the White Home will undergo with its menace of more durable sanctions.

What's extra, from what Putin mentioned on Friday about Russia advancing alongside your entire entrance line in Ukraine, he clearly believes a ceasefire now is just not in Moscow's greatest curiosity.

Ukrainian officers on Friday mentioned Kyiv had acquired "optimistic indicators" from the US about potential new sanctions.

A day earlier, senior US diplomat John Kelley instructed the UN Safety Council that Russia and Ukraine "should negotiate a ceasefire and sturdy peace".

"It's time to make a deal," he mentioned.

Trump's particular envoy Steve Witkoff, who's presently in Israel, would go to Russia subsequent, the US president mentioned earlier this week. He gave no additional particulars.