Egypt Daily News – U.S. President Donald Trump has significantly toughened his stance on Russia, warning President Vladimir Putin that he has just 10 to 12 days to end the war in Ukraine or face further economic retaliation. Speaking from his golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland, where he met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump also acknowledged worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza and hinted at wider trade realignments.
“I’m very disappointed in President Putin,” Trump said during a joint press appearance on Monday. “Frankly, I thought the war would be over by now. But every time I think it’s about to end, more people are killed. I’m not interested in speaking with him anymore.”
Initially, Trump had given Putin a 50-day deadline to end hostilities in Ukraine. That window has now been cut drastically. “There’s no point in waiting longer,” he said. “Starting today, the new deadline is 10 or 12 days.”
Trump also suggested the U.S. is prepared to impose secondary sanctions—measures targeting third-party countries that continue to purchase Russian oil and gas, in a bid to further isolate Moscow economically. “We’re studying every avenue to dry up the revenue streams funding this war,” he said.
Russia Responds: “We Are Not Israel or Iran”
The Kremlin didn’t wait long to respond. Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council and a close ally of Putin, dismissed Trump’s ultimatum as provocative and dangerous. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Medvedev warned that Trump was “playing a game of ultimatums” with a nuclear power and that such posturing could backfire.
“Trump must remember two things,” Medvedev wrote. “First, Russia is not Israel or even Iran. Second, each new ultimatum is not just a threat, it’s a step closer to a war not between Russia and Ukraine, but between Russia and the United States.”
He added pointedly, “Don’t follow the path of ‘Sleepy Joe,’” referencing Trump’s predecessor Joe Biden, whom Trump has frequently mocked for his foreign policy approach.
The comments underscore the depth of Russian resistance to any perceived Western coercion and signal that Moscow is not inclined to alter its strategic calculus under pressure regardless of who is in the White House.
Shift in Tone on Gaza
Trump also used the high-profile meeting to address the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where food shortages and blocked aid shipments have intensified an already dire crisis. “Some of these children, this is real famine,” he said. “We’re going to step in. We’ll set up food distribution centers. We can save a lot of lives.”
The comments mark a notable shift from earlier statements in which Trump had largely backed Israel’s military campaign. Now, amid renewed ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, the U.S. appears to be exploring ways to ease the civilian toll without directly pressuring Tel Aviv.
Starmer, who is under growing domestic pressure to recognize a Palestinian state, described the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic by every measure.” Both leaders confirmed that humanitarian aid and ceasefire options were part of their private discussions.
Trade Talks and Transatlantic Realignment
Beyond war and diplomacy, the meeting also touched on trade. Trump and Starmer discussed the U.S.-UK Free Trade Agreement signed on May 8, which aims to reduce tariffs on key British exports. Though the deal has not yet taken effect, it is expected to become operational on August 1.
In a sign of goodwill, Trump said he would not impose steep tariffs on British pharmaceuticals—a point of concern in prior negotiations. “We trust the UK more than some other countries when it comes to medicines,” he said. “And given our close ties, we know you won’t use that as leverage.”
Trump also hosted European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at Turnberry a day earlier, where the U.S. and EU reached an understanding to avert a full-blown trade conflict. The series of high-level meetings signals a broader transatlantic reset, as Trump seeks to rebalance economic and security relationships in his second term.
Blending Diplomacy with Business
The president’s five-day trip to Scotland, which blends political negotiations with private business interests, has included several rounds of golf at his Turnberry resort. On Tuesday, he and Starmer are scheduled to travel to Aberdeen for the opening of a new Trump golf course.
Though unconventional, Trump’s blending of statecraft and personal enterprise is emblematic of his presidency. He continues to use such settings to advance both national policy goals and his own global business brand.
Back in Washington, the White House is reportedly preparing for a range of contingencies should Russia reject the deadline. “We’re still committed to a peaceful resolution in Ukraine,” a White House spokesperson told Agence France-Presse. “But patience has limits.”
As the countdown begins, the stakes are enormous. Trump’s aggressive timeline and Medvedev’s fiery response have raised the specter of a wider geopolitical rupture, one that may extend far beyond Ukraine’s borders.
