Location at a glance: Moscow angry, Kyiv delighted with Trump’s customs threat

The new ultimatum of US President Donald Trump in his efforts for peace in Ukraine has caused opposing reactions in Moscow and Kiev. Form Russian President Dmitri Medvedev warned of a war between Russia and the United States. The Ukrainian head of state Wolodymyr Selenskyj, on the other hand, rated Trump’s announcement as a step on the way to peace, which could only be reached from a position of strength.

Trump had announced yesterday during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Strander to increase the pressure on the Kremlin. He would reduce the period of 50 days, after the end of which significantly higher tariffs for Russia’s trading partners, reduce to “ten or twelve” days, said the 79-year-old. The new target brand is “from today” (Monday), he added. The deadline for reaching a ceasefire or a peace agreement on the beginning of September is shortened to less than two weeks.

Trump disappointed by Putin

Trump justified his approach to being disappointed by Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin. Although he has talks with the Russian president about the termination of the war, he then let rockets fire back into Ukrainian cities.

The new penalty of 100 percent should move Russia’s trading partner – above all China and India – to either buy less Russian oil and gas, or to put pressure on the raw material power to get a peaceful solution in Ukraine.

So far, in contrast to the Ukrainian President Selenskyj, Putin rejected suggestions for unconditional ceasefire. He justified this by the fact that Ukraine could use the fire break to draw new strength in order to continue war with new arms deliveries of their allies, further mobilization of soldiers and a reorder of the troops that have become defensive. At the same time, Russia adheres to its own demands that come close to a surrender of Kiev.

Medvedev threatens the USA with war

Already at Trump’s original ultimatum of 50 days, Moscow had reacted unimpressed with new attacks on Ukraine. While the Kremlin was initially silent about reducing the deadline, Russia’s ex-President Medvedev reacted with a threat: Every ultimatum of Trump was on the way to war, he wrote on the platform X. “Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country.” Trump should not take the path of his predecessor Joe Biden, warned Medvedev, who, as the head of the National Security Council, continues to have a lot of influence in Moscow.

In the war ongoing since February 2022, Biden had clearly occupied position in favor of Ukraine. Trump’s election victory in November was acknowledged on the Russian side with great relief, and even after taking office, the Republican noticed with a comparatively wreath -friendly positions.

Selenskyj believes in the effects of sanctions as a pressure

Unlike Medledew, the Ukrainian President Selenskyj Trump’s new pitch praised. “We repeatedly emphasized – and all partners know that – that sanctions are a key element,” he said in his evening video message. Peace through strength is possible because Russia feels the sanctions and the resulting losses, the Ukrainian was optimistic.

According to his information, Russia is currently not interested in peace. Rather, the Russian leadership do everything to extend the war and damage the neighbor. As an example, he led the nightly air strikes. Last night alone, the Ukrainian air defense intercepted around 300 Russian drones, said Selenskyj, who had recently declared the production of interception drones a priority.

Kyiv strengthens secret service operations

But the Ukrainian leadership does not want to limit itself to defensive measures solely on the national defense. In his speech, Selenskyj announced a strengthening of the SBU secret service. With a corresponding law, he particularly increased the troop strength of the Center for Special Operations. This unit is one of the most powerful in defense against the Russian invasion.

The SBU had a sensational stroke against Russia’s strategic bomber fleet in early June. Drone invited to truck attacked military airfields far in the Russian hinterland and destroyed about a dozen bombers with which Russia had attacked Ukraine.