Trump Flips on Putin – Slams Down 10-Day Ukraine Deadline

Understanding global power plays can feel overwhelming. But sometimes all it takes is one man’s changing stance to upend an entire strategy.

That is exactly what happened when Donald Trump shifted his approach to Russia—and Vladimir Putin’s plan seemed to fall apart overnight.

Trump set a firm deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. What used to be 50 days became just 10 to 12 days, writes Ziare.

Threats of New Sanctions and Tariffs

If Moscow doesn’t act, the U.S. has warned it will unleash new sanctions and tariffs. Said a British expert, Samuel Ramani, this move left Putin with the one thing he cannot afford: time.

Meanwhile, Russia carried on its attacks. It claimed it captured two villages in central Ukraine. On the same day Trump spoke, Russia fired drones and missiles into Ukraine.

The strike forced Poland to scramble jets in its airspace. The tone from Moscow grew raw.

Former President Dmitry Medvedev warned that the U.S. was edging toward war. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia is fighting the entire West alone.

Peace talks remain stalled. The most recent one in Istanbul lasted less than an hour.

Support from NATO

Putin seems to have misjudged Trump. He once bet that Trump would pull back military support for Ukraine and give Russia free rein.

But those bets did not pay off. Trump now openly calls Russia the main roadblock to peace. He is pushing a strong deterrence policy.

Unlike under Biden, U.S. weapons for Ukraine will be bought by NATO allies. Germany may spend billions on American arms. Norway is doubling its financial aid and will send a Patriot missile system.

NATO countries including Britain, the Netherlands, Canada, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark are also stepping up.

Trump has also celebrated NATO’s decision to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP. His new trade deal with the EU includes billions in purchases of military gear.

Russian Economy and Inflation

Russian aggression, meant to weaken NATO, has ended up strengthening it. After Crimea in 2014 and the 2022 invasion, even Finland and Sweden joined the alliance. Now Trump’s approach is pushing support even higher.

Meanwhile, Russia’s economy teeters. If the U.S. adds tough tariffs and closes loopholes, analysts say a shock is coming.

Russia’s central bank cut rates from 20% to 18%, but warned that inflation is a growing threat. Official unemployment is only 2.4%, but worker shortages and weak wage growth suggest serious problems ahead.

At the 2025 St. Petersburg Economic Forum, Economic Minister Maxim Reshetnikov warned that Russia is nearly in a recession.

Putin gambled on patience, but Trump has none left. The consequences may be far more painful than he ever imagined.