Trump losing patience with Putin, says he will shorten deadline to end Ukraine war

Donald Trump said he would give Russian President Vladimir Putin 10 or 12 days to reach a cease-fire with Ukraine or face more economic pressure from the US.

US President Donald Trump, right, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the Trump Turnberry golf course in Scotland on Monday. Picture: AP

US President Donald Trump said he would give Russian President Vladimir Putin 10 or 12 days to reach a cease-fire with Ukraine or face more economic pressure from the US, as he seeks to pressure the Russian leader to the negotiating table.

Mr Trump earlier this month said Putin had 50 days to agree to a cease-fire in Ukraine or the US would unleash a tariff package on Russia’s trading partners. On Monday he shortened that time frame. “We just don’t see any progress being made,” Mr Trump said in Scotland on Monday as he met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Mr Trump expressed frustration with Putin. “We thought we had that settled numerous times,” he said, adding he was “very disappointed” with the Russian leader.

“And then President Putin goes out and starts launching rockets into some city … bodies lying all over the street.”

He added that on several occasions he had what he thought were positive talks with Putin, only to see attacks on Ukraine intensify, sometimes only hours after he talked with the Russian leader.

“You know, this has happened on too many occasions, and I don’t like it,” he said. However, he declined to say that Putin was lying to him.

Mr Trump had said previously he would impose “very severe tariffs” if Putin didn’t reach a deal. He added on Monday that he could also impose sanctions as part of the package.

Mr Trump returned to office promising a quick end to the war in Ukraine, thanks in large part to his relationship with Putin. However, in recent weeks Mr Trump has repeatedly expressed disillusionment with the Russian leader, who has only intensified his assault on Ukraine as the US President pushed for peace. Earlier this month the US reached a deal with NATO to provide weapons and patriot missiles to Ukraine, marking a major policy shift.

Speaking at his Turnberry golf course in Scotland, Mr Trump said that he would also discuss the continuing crisis in the Gaza strip with Sir Keir.

Sir Keir, who is due to spend the day with Mr Trump travelling between his Scottish golf courses, said he would discuss the outlines of a plan he is formulating with fellow European leaders to get the US President to pressure Israel into moving toward a ceasefire and refine a plan to get humanitarian aid into the enclave. To apply pressure on Israel, France has recently said that it would recognise a Palestinian state, and the UK said it could follow suit if there was a ceasefire.

Sir Keir said that the UK agreed with Israel that Hamas couldn’t be allowed to remain in charge of Gaza as part of any deal.

Mr Trump declined to be drawn on recognition of a Palestinian state, saying he was “not going to take a position”.

When asked if he agreed with the Israeli Prime Minister’s assertion that there was no starvation in Gaza, Mr Trump replied: “I don’t know. I mean, based on television, I would say not particularly, because those children look very hungry, but we’re giving a lot of money and a lot of food, and other nations are now stepping up.”

Sir Keir said that the situation in Gaza was “desperate”.

Amid growing international pressure, Israel on Sunday announced a tactical pause in military activity in parts of Gaza and the establishment of safe routes for aid.

Mr Trump added that a cease-fire was “possible” and that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would have to approach things in a “different way” as the war continued. Mr Trump said he was talking with Mr Netanyahu and coming up with a plan.

“We are going to set up food centres” in Gaza and supply funds, Mr Trump said, adding that other nations would join the US in doing so.

The Wall Street Journal