Putin not swayed by Trump's Ukraine conflict ultimatum

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

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

Talking a day after one of the deadliest Russian air attacks 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 stated he was prepared to satisfy Putin "any time".

Talking on Friday on the Valaam Monastery on an island in north-western Russia, Putin stated 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 comply with a long-term ceasefire, he stated: "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 value".

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

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

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

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

On Thursday, not less than 31 folks - 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 feel it is disgusting what they're doing," he informed journalists.

When in July Trump introduced his authentic 50-day deadline for Russia to finish the conflict, Putin did not react. When that was lowered to 10-12 days, Putin stated 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 stated.

Expertise exhibits that, for Trump, deadlines should not set in stone. However on paper, not less than, his newest deadline expires on 8 August.

If by then Russia hasn't signed as much as a ceasefire in Ukraine, it is going to face extra sanctions – so in idea will international locations that purchase Russian oil.

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

What's extra, from what Putin stated on Friday about Russia advancing alongside all the entrance line in Ukraine, he clearly believes a ceasefire now will not be in Moscow's finest curiosity.

Ukrainian officers on Friday stated Kyiv had obtained "optimistic alerts" from the US about potential new sanctions.

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

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

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