Just a few days after the November presidential election in the USA, the reality about the war in Ukraine reminded Donald Trump about itself. Through his spokespersons in the media, he made it clear that The promised room during the election campaign will last a little longer than 24 hours.
When the Ultimatum of the US President against Russia on the suspension of weapons expires on Friday, Trump will hold his office for exactly 200 days. However, it is almost impossible for Vladimir Putin to agree to the end of the war. According to media reports, the Russian president is ready to suspend the raids only for a limited time. This puts Trump from a dilemma: he will either lose their credibility on the international arena, or he will risk huge economic shocks.
Trump actually wanted to give Russia time until the end of August to agree to suspend a weapon. The deadline imposed in mid -July was originally 50 days. At the end of the month, the US President unexpectedly shortened him to 10 days, from August 8 as an end point. He explained that if Putin did not meet his request, he imposes secondary sanctions for countries that buy Russian energy. They will have to face a penalty of 100 %. for export to the USA.
It is especially about India and China, which according to the Center for Energy and Pure Air Research They buy 84 percent in total Russian oil. In his public statements, Trump in particular attacks India. “They feed the war machine, and when they do this, I'm not happy,” he said.
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He referred not only to the purchasing of energy by the government in New Delhi, but also to the interests of Indian companies with the Russian defense industry. According to the report of the Reuters information agency Indian companies earn millions on the sale of technologies to Russia. Trump has not yet publicly announced that he would also impose appropriate secondary duties on China. However, the Department of State in Washington has already stated that Beijing is “a key factor enabling Russia war.”
“Very productive” meeting with Putin
Now Trump must “bring”. The ultimatum for Putin is the last ace in Trump's sleeve to convince him to consent to the suspension of weapons. All other funds have not yet brought any results. Neither the public humiliation of the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelnski in the White House at the end of February and concession to Putin, so as not to take Kiev to NATO without anything in return, nor the first delicate tone escalation at the end of April, when Trump accused the Russian ruler of the use of delay tactics.
Putin, undressed, continues the war in Ukraine. Even the escalation of verbal attacks, when Trump called him a “complete madman” at the end of May and accused him of saying “many nonsense” at the beginning of July, did not change this state of affairs. So far There are no signs that Moscow will agree to suspend the weapon after the ultimatum expired.
On Wednesday, Putin took a special envoy of Trump, Steve Witkoff in the Kremlin. According to Bloomberg, Russia proposed a limited suspension of weapons in the air. Kremlin apparently He deliberately tries to deepen the Trump's dilemma. After all, they were Russian raids on civil infrastructure, which caused numerous victims and images of devastation, convinced the US President to shorten the original 50-day ultimatum.
If such paintings do not appear in the news, then the humanitarian consequences of Trump's failure in the quick end of the war disappear from American screens. In this regard The minimum concession on the part of Russia is a temptation for the US presidentthat he would pay attention to other topics, and for Moscow a step that will not have a major negative impact on her own war purposes.
EPA / Anatoly Maltsev / PAP
Press conference of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, July 16, 2018.
Trump described the meeting of Witkoff and Putin as “very productive”. “Great progress has been achieved,” wrote on the Truth Social platform. A little later he even announced that he would like to meet Putin himself. The Kremlin confirmed on Thursday that the meeting will take place “in the coming days”. This does not mean, however, that the subject of the ultimatum has disappeared. Washington is still planning to impose threatening penalty duties, which was confirmed by the White House.
Customs also have an impact on American consumers
If Trump actually fulfills his threats, it will be painful for himself. To discourage countries such as China, India or Türkiye to buy Russian energy, duties would have to be sufficiently high. Threatening at a rate of 100 percent, Trump still weakened the offer of American senators who called up to 500 percent. And he recently stated that he does not mean a specific number yet.
Chinese imports to the USA are already covered by a 30 % customs tariff. On Thursday, Trump raised the duty to Indian imports from 25 to 50 percent. Due to New Delhi energy agreements with Russia. In the trade war with Beijing, Trump in the meantime even raised the duty to 145 percent. – No result. China did not withdraw.
However, the high customs rate would increase prices for American consumers. And not only in supermarkets, but also at gas stations. If Russian oil ceases to be de facto available on the global market, This will cause a rapid increase in its prices. The compromise could limit these effects, but he would not have the desired influence on Moscow.
Russia has been subject to Western sanctions for years and lives in accordance with the motto that it is able to survive the next round. Especially since For Moscow, war goals are more important, i.e. a complete conquest of at least four Ukrainian circuits: Cherson, Donetsk, Lugansk and Zaporoski, which were annexed with violation of international law. And things on the front now look good for the Russian army – much better than for Ukraine.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
