Putin Doubts Potency of Trump's Ultimatum to End the War
Trump has threatened to hit Russia with new sanctions and impose 100% tariffs on countries that buy its oil - of which the biggest are China and India - unless Putin agrees to a ceasefire in Russia's war in Ukraine.
Putin's determination to keep going is prompted by his belief that Russia is winning and by scepticism that yet more U.S. sanctions will have much of an impact after successive waves of economic penalties during 3-1/2 years of war, according to three sources familiar with discussions in the Kremlin.
The Russian leader does not want to anger Trump, and he realises that he may be spurning a chance to improve relations with Washington and the West, but his war goals take precedence, two of the sources said.
Putin's goal is to fully capture the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, which Russia has claimed as its own, and then to talk about a peace agreement, one of the sources said.
"If Putin were able to fully occupy those four regions which he has claimed for Russia he could claim that his war in Ukraine had reached his objectives," said James Rodgers, author of the forthcoming book "The Return of Russia".
The current talks process, in which Russian and Ukrainian negotiators have met three times since May, was an attempt by Moscow to convince Trump that Putin was not rejecting peace, the first source said, adding that the talks were devoid of real substance apart from discussions on humanitarian exchanges.
Russia says it is serious about agreeing a long-term peace in the negotiations but that the process is complicated because the two sides' stances are so far apart. Putin last week described the talks as positive.
Moscow's stated demands include a full Ukrainian withdrawal from the four regions and acceptance by Kyiv of neutral status and limits on the size of its military – demands rejected by Ukraine.
In a sign that there may yet be an opportunity to strike a deal before the deadline, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Russia this week, following an escalation in rhetoric between Trump and Moscow over risks of nuclear war. On Monday, Russia said it was no longer bound by a moratorium on short- and medium-range nuclear missiles.
The Kremlin did not respond to a request for comment for this story. All the sources spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
Trump, who in the past has praised Putin and held out the prospect of lucrative business deals between their two countries, has lately expressed growing impatience with the Russian president. He has complained about what he called Putin's "bullshit" and described Russia's relentless bombing of Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities as "disgusting".
The Kremlin has said it noted Trump's statements but it has declined to respond to them.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko last week called on the world to respond with "maximum pressure" after the worst Russian air strike of the year killed 31 people in Kyiv, including five children, in what she called Russia's response to Trump's deadline.
"President Trump wants to stop the killing, which is why he is selling American-made weapons to NATO members and threatening Putin with biting tariffs and sanctions if he does not agree to a ceasefire," White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in response to a request for comment.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
LBCI
6 hours ago
- LBCI
Brazil seeks WTO relief against Trump tariffs: Government
Brazil on Wednesday approached the World Trade Organization for relief against trade tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, sources in the government of Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva told AFP. The 50-percent tariff on several Brazilian goods went into force Wednesday over what Trump has termed a "witch hunt" against his far-right ally, coup-accused former leader Jair Bolsonaro. AFP
L'Orient-Le Jour
8 hours ago
- L'Orient-Le Jour
'Israel blew up the Port,' Zeaiter says, points Lebanese Army's 'responsibility'
BEIRUT — Former MP and public works minister Ghazi Zeaiter dismissed all accusations levied against him in the Beirut Port explosion case as "politically and media-driven, not judicial," during an interview published on Wednesday by Kalam Inas. According to the state-run National News Agency (NNA), which cited the interview, Zeaiter told journalist Inas al-Jarmakani that "Israel blew up the Port," and that "a great responsibility lies with the Lebanese Army," pointing to its role in authorizing the entry of hazardous materials to the Port, notably ammonium nitrate, which would later cause the explosion. Zeaiter repeatedly missed hearings before the investigating judge at the Court of Justice, Tarek Bitar, who had summoned him as a suspect in the investigation into the double explosion at the Beirut Port on Aug 4, 2020. Bitar had to suspend his investigations in January 2023, due to the hostility of a large part of the political class, notably Hezbollah, as well as a series of lawsuits directed against him. He resumed his investigation in early 2025 and has already interrogated several former officials, including former Prime Minister Hassane Diab and former Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk. The devastating event, one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history, destroyed a large part of the Lebanese capital, killing more than 220 people and injuring 6,500. This blast started with a fire in a Port warehouse where tons of ammonium nitrate were being improperly stored, despite repeated warnings to the highest authorities, which now stand accused of negligence. Zeaiter was minister of public works and transport in 2014 at the time of the ammonium nitrate was unloaded at the Port, allegedly brought there by a Russian ship. For the first time, Zeaiter revealed documents he received during his tenure as minister of public works, including 'a letter from the Russian embassy concerning the poor conditions of the Russian sailors aboard the ship,' as well as another letter from the Ukrainian embassy inquiring about the failure to implement a judicial decision issued by Judge Jad Maalouf to refloat the Russian ship. In both cases, he claimed that the "necessary actions were taken." While refusing to place blame on anyone — 'out of respect for the blood of the Port martyrs and the tears of their families' — Zeaiter stated: 'A great responsibility falls on the Lebanese Army,' explaining that 'the entry of ammonium nitrate or any dangerous materials requires a permit from army intelligence.' 'Even the minister of public works needs permission from army intelligence and security agencies to visit and inspect the Port,' he added. 'I exercised my legitimate right to defend myself' 'Judge Sawan had mentioned suspicions surrounding 12 ministers and four prime ministers, yet he only sent a letter to Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri regarding suspicions against PM Hassan Diab, MPs Ghazi Zeaiter and Ali Hassan Khalil, and former Minister Youssef Fenianos," Zeaiter said. "That's when doubts began to arise about the politicization of this case. I exercised my legitimate right to defend myself.' Zeaiter also revealed that 'Investigative Judge Tarek Bitar gave guarantees to Abbas Ibrahim, Nohad Machnouk, and Hassan Diab to appear before him without being detained. A similar offer was made to me through a lawyer — to appear and present all the evidence and documents I have, without being detained.' Zeaiter said he 'refused Bitar's offer as it violates legal procedures,' noting that he had already submitted a recusal request against Bitar and that his prosecution should fall under parliamentary jurisdiction. He disclosed that after Judge Sawan filed charges, he visited Berri, who told him: 'If I knew you and MP Ali Hassan Khalil were responsible, I would be the first to hold you accountable. I protect the Constitution, not individuals.' Zeaiter said that Berri had called for a parliamentary meeting devoted to the issue of lifting the immunity on sitting MPs, following a petition signed by 26 members of parliament. However, quorum was not met, as most parliamentary blocs had not been present. 'Israel is the one that bombed the Port' Zeaiter maintained that he believed Israel was behind the Port explosion. 'Israel is the one that bombed the port,' he insisted, stating that "some people saw Israeli aircraft in the sky, and the destruction caused resembled that of recent Israeli military operations." Residents reported hearing airplane sounds seconds before the blast, with some describing a whistling noise similar to a jet engine, however the director of Bellingcat recently told L'Orient-Le Jour that while it's possible, there is no evidence to support the theory and other experts have responded to the theory saying the fire that preceded the explosion could have made sounds resembling that of fighter jets. As for the clash that occurred between the neighborhoods of Chiyah and Ain al-Rummaneh following a protest by Hezbollah and Amal Movement supporters against Judge Bitar, Zeaiter claimed: 'The demonstrators did not enter Ain al-Rummaneh. It was the Lebanese Forces who fired at the protesters.' When asked what he would do if a formal indictment found him guilty, Zeaiter replied: 'We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.'
Nahar Net
11 hours ago
- Nahar Net
Trump to put additional 25% import taxes on India, bringing combined tariffs to 50%
by Naharnet Newsdesk 06 August 2025, 17:52 President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday to place an additional 25% tariff on India for its purchases of Russian oil, bringing the combined tariffs imposed by the United States on India to 50%. The tariffs would go into effect 21 days after the signing of the order, meaning that both India and Russia might have time to negotiate with the administration on the import taxes. Trump's move could reshape India's economic ambitions. Many American companies have seen India as an alternative to the Chinese manufacturing that Trump had hoped to diminish through the use of tariffs. Even though China also buys oil from Russia, Beijing was not subject to the additional tariffs in the order signed by the Republican president. The U.S. and China are currently in negotiations on trade, with Washington imposing a 30% tariff on Chinese goods and facing a 10% retaliatory tax from Beijing on American products.
