Kremlin mocks Trump's 50-day deadline – and ‘unfazed' Putin ‘may demand MORE Ukrainian territory over sanctions threat'
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THE Kremlin has mocked Trump's 50-day deadline to strike a peace deal - and may demand even more Ukrainian territory instead of laying down arms.
Putin will keep terrorising Ukrainian civilians during the seven-week period, sources said, apparently unfazed by America's threat of sanctions and decision to arm Ukraine with billions of dollars worth of long-range weapons.
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Putin is reportedly unfazed by Trump's latest threats and may demand even more Ukrainian territory
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Moscow defiantly blitzed Ukraine again just hours after Trump issued his ultimatum
Credit: AP
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Trump said he is 'disappointed but not done with' Putin
Credit: AP
Trump on Monday vowed to slap brutal 100 percent tariffs on Russia if Moscow did not reach a peace agreement with Ukraine within 50 days.
Dismissing the President's ultimatum, Russian Foreign Minister said: "We of course want to understand what is behind this statement - 50 days.
"It used to be 24 hours, it used to be 100 days, we have been through all of this and we really want to understand what motivates the President of the United States."
Lavrov suggested Trump's move was simply driven by "indecent pressure from the European Union".
Sources familiar with the internal workings of the Kremlin said that Putin would not end the war under pressure from the west, and believes the economy is strong enough to weather any additional economic measures.
He also believes his military has the upper hand on the battlefield - and will be able to deal with the extra "top-of-the-line' long-range weapons Trump intends to supply.
A source said: "Appetite comes with eating," meaning he is likely to continue grabbing land until the war has stopped.
Explaining the dictator's thinking, another said: "Putin thinks no one has seriously engaged with him on the details of peace in Ukraine - including the Americans - so he will continue until he gets what he wants."
Despite several telephone calls between Trump and Putin, and diplomatic visits to Russia, Putin feels there have not been detailed discussions towards a peace plan, the source said.
They added: "Putin values the relationship with Trump and had good discussions with [Steve] Witkoff, but the interests of Russia come above all else."
Trump shipping long-range missiles to Ukraine will change face of war' after 'p****d' Don's patience with Putin runs out
Meanwhile, former Russian President Dmiitry Medvedev made a jibe on X: "Trump issue a theatrical ultimatum to the Kremlin.
The world shuddered, expecting the consequences.
"Belligerent Europe was disappointed. Russia didn't care."
It was also reported by The Financial Times and The Washington Post that Trump encouraged Ukraine's President Zelensky during a phone call to strike deeper inside Russia in order to crank up the pressure on Putin.
He apparently asked whether Ukraine could "hit Moscow" in order to "make Putin feel the pain of war", according to anonymous sources cited by the papers.
Zelensky's answer was swift and direct: 'Absolutely. We can if you give us the weapons.'
However, the White House denied Trump was calling for escalation, with Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt telling Newsweek: "President Trump was merely asking a question, not encouraging further killing.
"He's working tirelessly to stop the killing and end this war."
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Kremlin sources said Putin will not end the bloodshed during the deadline period
Credit: EPA
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Trump has promised to supply Ukraine with long-range missiles
Credit: EPA
Putin's indifference was evident just hours after Trump issued the ultimatumwhen he unleashed a fresh devastating blitz on Ukrainian cities from Kharkiv to Zaporizhzhia and Sumy.
In Sumy Oblast, Russian drones injured six people, including a 19-year-old student and 14-year-old girl, when they struck a university.
A separate missile strike in Shostka wounded another teen and damaged a medical facility.
Trump gave a surprise interview to the BBC on Monday night, when he said he was "disappointed but not done with" Putin.
He also repeated his new-found backing for Nato and spoke of his respect for The King and Sir Keir Starmer ahead of his September state visit to the UK.
Trump - for the first time - opened up about his difficulty trusting Putin, who has stalled four US attempts to end the 40 months Ukraine bloodbath.
The President said: 'I thought I had a deal four times.
'I'm not done with him I'm disappointed in him. We thought we had a deal done four time the you go home and find he just attacked a nursing home or something in Kyiv…
'And so what the hell was that all about.'
Trump, who once branded Nato 'obsolete,' told the BBC his view has changed.
'No. I think NATO is now becoming the opposite of that,' he said, because members were 'paying their own bills.'
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