A senior Russian official has asserted that President Donald Trump is steering the United States closer to conflict after expressing his disappointment in Vladimir Putin.
At the age of 79, the Republican leader has been striving to resolve the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe since resuming his position in the White House in January. However, his efforts have been repeatedly met with resistance from the Kremlin.
After a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on July 28, President Trump commented on the situation.
“We thought we had it settled numerous times, and then President Putin goes out and starts launching rockets into some city like Kyiv and kills a lot of people in a nursing home or whatever,” he told reporters in England.
“You have bodies lying all over the street, and I say that’s not the way to do it. So we’ll see what happens with that.”
Earlier in the month, Trump had issued a warning of imposing ‘very severe’ tariffs on Russia if Putin did not agree to a ceasefire within a 50-day timeframe, with the deadline set for September 2.
However, on Monday, Trump suggested he might ‘reduce that 50 days that I gave him to a lesser number’, stating, “I think I already know the answer, what’s going to happen.”
Later, he hinted at shortening the deadline to ‘about 10 or 12 days’ from that day, meaning the new deadline would fall on August 9.
In response to Trump’s actions, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, a member of Putin’s Security Council, took to Twitter to criticize Trump’s approach and the United States’ current role in the conflict.
“Trump’s playing the ultimatum game with Russia: 50 days or 10,” he typed.
“He should remember 2 things: 1. Russia isn’t Israel or even Iran. 2. Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country. Don’t go down the Sleepy Joe road!”
Medvedev’s comments implied a warning of potential conflict with the United States if it continues its involvement in Russian matters. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov addressed reporters today.
Peskov stated that Putin’s office has ‘took note of President Trump’s statement yesterday’, and indicated he ‘would like to avoid any assessments’ of Trump’s remarks.
During Trump’s visit to Downing Street, discussions largely centered around the ‘barbaric war’ in Russia and highlighted ongoing efforts in their 50-day campaign to arm Ukraine and push Putin towards negotiations, alongside trade discussions.
As the Ukraine conflict persists, Russian drone and missile attacks targeted Ukraine’s north-eastern Sumy region on Sunday, resulting in injuries to four individuals.
Furthermore, Russian authorities claimed to have intercepted 150 Ukrainian drones, with one casualty and three injuries reported near St Petersburg.