Russia Racing to Make Main Ukraine Positive aspects Earlier than Trump's 50-Day Deadline

[ad_1] President Donald Trump has teased shortening a 50-day ceasefire deadline he gave Vladimir Putin, whose forces present no indicators of easing their efforts to seize a logistics hub in Ukraine's jap Donetsk area.

Trump instructed on Friday that secondary sanctions towards Russia may very well be imposed sooner than the seven-week deadline he introduced this month which was criticized by some as giving Putin an excessive amount of leeway in persevering with his summer time offensive.

When requested Friday about whether or not the U.S. may impose secondary sanctions on Russia earlier than the 50-day deadline, Trump replied, "perhaps."

Yuriy Boyechko, CEO of Hope for Ukraine, advised Newsweek that Putin is making an attempt to realize as a lot territory as he can earlier than the deadline. Different analysts have mentioned that neither Russia nor the monetary markets are involved about Trump's timeline.

Newsweek has contacted the Kremlin for remark.

Picture-illustration by Newsweek/Related Press/Canva/Getty Why It Issues Trump mentioned on July 14 that if Putin refused to finish the conflict inside 50 days, or by September 2, Russia would face "extreme" secondary tariffs which might harm revenues supporting its conflict machine, notably concerning oil exports to India and China.

However since these feedback, Russia has not relented in its missile and drone assaults on Ukraine, nor has it stopped its battlefield push, elevating questions that Trump has given Putin a seven-week window to proceed the summer time offensive.

What To Know Throughout a White Home assembly with NATO secretary-general Mark Rutte in mid-July, Trump expressed his unhappiness with Moscow and warned of tariffs of one hundred pc on international locations doing enterprise with Russia if no deal was completed in 50 days.

The U.S. president additionally introduced Ukraine would get extra Patriot air protection missiles and different weapons paid for by NATO allies in Europe, in what regarded like his hardest stance towards Putin.

However since that announcement, Russia's assaults on Ukrainian cities and its battlefield push continued unabated.

The Institute for the Examine of Warfare (ISW) mentioned Friday Russian forces had probably captured Novoekonomichne, northeast of Pokrovsk in efforts to envelop the logistics hub within the Donetsk area which might enable it to push additional west towards Dnipro.

The suppose tank mentioned that Russian forces had additionally superior into and northwest of Kupiansk within the Kharkiv area—additionally with the intention of enveloping town and complicating Ukraine's capacity to produce positions there.

Boyechko, founding father of Hope for Ukraine, which aids communities caught up on the entrance line of the conflict, advised Newsweek that Putin is making an attempt to realize as a lot territory as he can earlier than Trump's deadline.

The Russian president is focusing now on occupying a part of the areas of Sumy, Kharkiv and Dnipro which by way of pretend referendums he can later declare must be a part of Russia, he mentioned.

Boyechko predicted that subsequent few weeks will probably be very troublesome for Ukraine as Putin will use all the pieces he can to make good points earlier than September. "The Russians are attacking civilians' targets with depth that we've not seen for the reason that begin of conflict," he mentioned.

Retired U.S. Vice Admiral Robert Murrett mentioned since Trump's announcement, there may be scant proof that Putin and the Kremlin had modified their maximalist calls for—for Ukrainian territory, disarmament and an absence of safety ensures.

However neither Russia nor the monetary markets gave the impression to be overly involved concerning the 50-day timeline for added U.S. sanctions, Murrett, deputy director of the Institute for Safety Coverage and Legislation at Syracuse College, advised Newsweek.

Regardless of the U.S. saying further arms to Ukraine largely by way of European allies, the Kremlin remains to be satisfied that circumstances on the bottom are working of their favor and isn't occupied with even a stop hearth, no matter Kyiv's willingness for this, Murrett added.

President Donald Trump arrives at Glasgow Prestwick Airport on July 25, 2025 in Prestwick, Scotland. President Donald Trump arrives at Glasgow Prestwick Airport on July 25, 2025 in Prestwick, Scotland. Andrew Harnik A 3rd spherical of Ukraine-Russia peace talks held in Istanbul on July 23 noticed Moscow once more reject a full ceasefire. Ukraine proposed a summit between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin earlier than the tip of August which the Kremlin has but to just accept.

Aurélien Colson, educational co-director of the ESSEC Institute for Geopolitics & Enterprise, advised Newsweek that Trump had given Putin a inexperienced mild to proceed waging conflict in Ukraine for 50 extra days.

Trump has already threatened Russia with sanctions or tariffs if Putin doesn't finish the Ukraine conflict. "Putin ignored him each time, and Trump did nothing in response, each time. There's a sample right here, and will probably be repeated," Colsen added.

Pushan Dutt, professor of economics and political Science, at INSEAD mentioned given Trump's earlier pledges to finish the conflict inside 24 hours of taking workplace, "these deadlines will not be solely fungible but additionally extremely unreliable."

Nevertheless, even when Russia makes a concerted effort, success is hardly assured given the small good points made since January 2024 at a excessive price in troops and tools.

This picture taken June 19, 2025 of Pokrovsk, Donetsk area, exhibits burnt automobiles as civilians are evacuated from town by Ukrainian forces. This picture taken June 19, 2025 of Pokrovsk, Donetsk area, exhibits burnt automobiles as civilians are evacuated from town by Ukrainian forces. Kostiantyn Liberov/Getty Photos What Individuals Are Saying Yuriy Boychehko, CEO of Hope for Ukraine: "Sadly, Putin bought a 50-day cross to kill as many individuals as he can and do no matter he desires in Ukraine. He's pleased use this 50 day kill cross to inflict as a lot ache as he can on Ukrainian folks."

Aurélien Colson, educational co-director of the ESSEC Institute for Geopolitics & Enterprise: "Trump gave Putin the inexperienced mild to proceed waging conflict in Ukraine for 50 extra days. It would take extra stress towards Putin and extra help to Ukraine to deliver this conflict to an finish."

What Occurs Subsequent Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned Friday {that a} Zelensky-Putin summit is unlikely to happen inside 30 days. In the meantime Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mentioned he would converse with each Trump and Putin about convening them for talks in Turkey though eyes will probably be on Trump over whether or not he shortens the 50-day deadline.