Putin Vows To Keep Striking Ukraine Despite Trump’s Threats
Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to continue military operations in Ukraine despite fresh warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened new sanctions and increased arms supplies to Ukraine if Russia refuses to agree to a peace deal within 50 days.
Sources close to the Kremlin told Reuters that Putin remains defiant in the face of Trump’s ultimatum, confident that Russia’s economy can withstand potential 100 per cent tariffs from America and its allies.
“Putin believes the Americans have never seriously engaged him on a peace deal. Until he gets what he wants, he will keep going,” one insider told The Telegraph.
Putin’s conditions for any ceasefire remain international recognition of Russia’s 2022 annexation of four eastern Ukrainian regions, a ban on Ukraine joining NATO, and limits on Ukraine’s armed forces.
Another Kremlin source suggested the Russian leader might even expand his territorial ambitions.
“If Ukraine’s resistance crumbles, the offensive could push further into Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, and Kharkiv, but if resistance is strong, Russia might pause after taking the four eastern regions,” the source said.
Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, dismissed Trump’s threats during a visit to Beijing, where he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Speaking to reporters, Lavrov said Russia had survived multiple waves of sanctions and would adapt again.
“Fifty days, 24 hours, 100 days — we’ve heard all that before. Russia adapts. It will adapt again,” Lavrov said.
“We want to see what the U.S. actually wants before engaging further,” he added.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Trump’s message was “serious” and warranted careful analysis, but confirmed that Russia remains open to fresh negotiations with Ukraine.
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, derided the ultimatum as a “theatrical performance,” downplaying its potential impact on the Kremlin’s strategy.
Meanwhile, a senior White House official told Politico that Trump privately believes Russia will ultimately win the war, citing its vast resources and military manpower.
“The president sees the war as a matter of time. He wants the killing to stop, but he also thinks Russia’s size and resilience give it a long-term advantage,” the official said.
Despite two rounds of previous peace talks with Ukraine, no meaningful progress has been made, and the conflict continues to grind on with heavy casualties on both sides.
Putin Vows To Keep Striking Ukraine Despite Trump’s Threats is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
