Trump shortens deadline for Putin: Hope for peace in Ukraine

Trump shortens deadline for Putin: Hope for peace in Ukraine

The US President Donald Trump has announced that the 50-day period that he originally wanted to grant Vladimir Putin for a ceasefire with Ukraine to only “10 or 12 days”. This drastic change raises the question of whether a shorter deadline actually makes a difference, especially when Trump claims that his Russian colleague has already decided not to make peace.

challenges for Ukraine

Ukraine is faced with the front lines since the beginning of the war. Until September 3 - the original deadline - many of the territorial profits that Moscow have achieved in the past few weeks could be realized. In view of the speed and strategic nature of Russian progress, it is likely that the Russian troops will be close to the eastern centers of Pokrovsk, Kostiannivka and Kupiansk in the north.

episodes for the front lines

Such a scenario would change the balance of power on the front lines and Putin's goal of conquering the Donetsk region, within reach. In addition, this would make the defense of the area between the east of Ukraine and Kiev a much greater challenge for the coming winter. Ukraine could lose control of many cities that it currently needs to defend the East and would have difficulty maintaining the stop in Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.

reactions from Ukraine

Trump's statements were taken in Kiev. Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj, explained that Trump sent "a clear message of peace through strength". Yermak emphasized that Trump had already announced that the time frame for Putin has been shortened because the answer was obvious: "Putin only respects power - and this message is clearly and clearly."

The meaning of the next few days

What will happen in the next 10 to 12 days is crucial. An empty threat or a new adaptation of Trump's deadline could increase the doubts about his willingness to take serious measures against the Kremlin. The imposed secondary sanctions or tariffs that Trump has threatened could have enormous effects on the global energy market. These sanctions aim to punish India and China for the purchase of Russian oil and gas.

The geopolitical implications

India is a US ally that depends heavily on Russian energy. This energy can be obtained from complex mechanisms to prevent increased demand on other energy markets from drifting oil prices up and thus damaging the US economy. China, on the other hand, is a Russian ally who is even more dependent on Russian energy and is in a complicated, sometimes symbiotic economic relationship with the United States, which often balances to a trade war on the threshold.

decisions for the US government

If Trump would impose sanctions against one of the two countries, this would damage both the US economy and the global energy market and make his actions more aggressive and striking than that of his predecessor, President Joe Biden. China could put pressure on Moscow, but at the same time Beijing European diplomats have understood that Russia cannot afford a loss, since the United States would then turn to China. China could bet that Trump is weakened instead of reconsidering his entire geopolitical strategy.

So we are faced with a crucial phase in which Moscow has to convince its allies and customers to maintain the purchase of the urgently needed energy. Ukraine, on the other hand, must try to defend its positions against the violent and successful attacks by the Russian armed forces. The Trump administration must decide whether its threats are taken seriously and whether it is willing to accept a significant economic incision or to find a convincing way of being out so that your deadlines and threats keep weight.