Trump Says He Will Reduce Russia’s 50-Day Deadline for Peace Deal With Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on July 28 that he plans to shorten the 50-day deadline he gave Russia to agree to a peace deal with Ukraine.

Speaking outside his hotel alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Turnberry, Scotland, during a visit to the UK, Trump said that he was “very disappointed” in Russian President Vladimir Putin and criticized the Russian leader for continuing to allow strikes on Ukrainian cities.

“We thought we had that 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,” Trump said.

“I’m going to reduce that 50 days that I gave him to a lesser number because I think I already know the answer.”

When asked by reporters how long he would set for the new deadline, Trump said: “I am going to make a new deadline of about 10 or 12 days from today. … There is no reason in waiting.”

Trump’s announcement comes two weeks after he announced on July 14 that he would impose harsh new punitive economic measures on Russia and its trade partners if Moscow did not agree to a peace deal with Kyiv in 50 days. After originally giving Russia until Sept. 2 to make a deal and avoid new economic punishment, Trump’s July 28 remarks suggest that Moscow now only has until the first two weeks of August to get to a deal.

Official Announcement

The U.S. president told reporters that he would “probably” make the official announcement on the precise deadline and terms by July 29, saying the announcement could include sanctions and secondary tariffs.

Trump had previously threatened a 100 percent levy on goods from third countries that trade with Russia if Moscow did not agree to a peace deal with Kyiv within the 50-day deadline.

“We’re going to do secondary sanctions, unless we have a deal,” Trump said on July 28.

The U.S. president expressed his regret at the impact that new punitive economic measures could have on the Russian people but said a deal needs to be made to stop the loss of life on both sides of the conflict.

“[Putin’s] got to make a deal,” he said. “Too many people are dying. It’s a really bloody war.”

Kyiv, Moscow Respond

In Kyiv, Trump’s shortening deadline for a peace deal was met with praise.

“I thank President Trump for his focus on saving lives and stopping this horrible war,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a July 28 statement. “Ukraine remains committed to peace and will work tirelessly with the U.S. to make both our countries safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”

Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, also thanked Trump for narrowing his deadline, writing in an X post that the U.S. president was “standing firm and delivering a clear message of peace through strength.”

“Putin respects only power—and that message is loud and clear. When America leads with strength, others think twice,” Yermak said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, on July 28, continued to urge expert-level discussions to pave the way for an eventual meeting between Trump and Putin. At a press briefing reported by Russia’s state-run TASS news agency, Peskov acknowledged some early efforts to set up a meeting between the two leaders in Turkey, including support from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, but said that “no specific preparations have been made.”

Peskov, likewise, said another proposal for Trump and Putin to meet in China has also failed to gain traction. Peskov said Putin plans to visit Beijing in early September.

“If it happens that the US president decides to visit China on the same dates, then, in theory, such a meeting could take place, as long as both heads of state are in the same city,” the Kremlin spokesman said.

US, Europe Prepare Patriot Missiles

Russia is already facing further pressure from the European Union after the bloc approved sanctions targeting Russia’s energy industry and shadow fleet on July 18.

Europe is also rallying around Ukraine to increase arms supplies after agreeing to support Trump’s proposal to send Patriot air defense systems to Kyiv, with allies covering the cost.

Last week, British Defense Secretary John Healey called on allies to back a 50-day push to arm Ukraine in hopes of pressuring Putin to get to the negotiating table, in a further push to improve Kyiv’s position.

Delegates from Russia and Ukraine met for the third time this year in Istanbul on July 23 to discuss prisoner swaps.

However, during the 40-minute meeting, there was no progress in terms of either agreeing on a peace deal or arranging a leadership-level meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin.

Finding a peaceful resolution to the Russia–Ukraine war is expected to feature in the U.S. president’s meeting with Starmer on July 28. According to a statement from the prime minister’s office published on July 27, the two world leaders will “talk about their shared desire to bring an end to the barbaric war.”

Downing Street noted that Trump and Starmer will also hold discussions on implementing the UK–U.S. trade deal and on a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.

Trump’s private visit comes ahead of his landmark second state visit to the UK in September.

Travis Gillmore contributed to this report.