On July 28, Donald Trump issued a new ultimatum to Vladimir Putin: two more weeks to end the war in Ukraine, or the US would impose large-scale new sanctions. The statement came during his meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland, where Trump also commented on EU trade talks.
Trump has made similar ultimatums in the past, ranging from 24 hours to 100 days, but this time he made it clear he would not wait any longer. He stated that if no progress is achieved, sanctions would target not only Russia, but also countries trading energy resources with it. Additionally, Trump noted he is no longer interested in direct talks with Putin.
The Kremlin's response was swift. Dmitry Medvedev described Trump's threats as an ultimatum that could lead to US-Russia conflict. The Kremlin rejects any interference and insists it will not alter its Ukraine policy.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Erdogan again offered to mediate peace talks in Istanbul. However, most of Ankara's previous efforts, apart from the grain deal, have failed to deliver meaningful results.
In Lithuania, an unidentified drone resembling a Russian "Shahed" was spotted. Officials suggest it may have entered Lithuanian airspace due to Ukrainian air defense activities, but there is no confirmation. The incident highlighted allied countries' vulnerability to Russian provocations.
Another major development was a large-scale cyber attack by Belarusian hackers on Russia's "Aeroflot," leading to delayed and cancelled flights at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport.
The EU and US signed a framework trade agreement on energy, which drew criticism from France and Hungary, while Germany supports strengthening Ukraine's ties with NATO, noting membership is possible after the war ends.
For the first time, Ukraine has started importing Azerbaijani gas via the Balkans, according to Naftogaz. Meanwhile, legislation proposing a ban on public performance of Russian-language songs is under discussion in the Ukrainian parliament.
In sum, the main event of the day was Trump's tougher stance on Russia and the mounting international pressure on Moscow, signaling significant consequences for all involved parties.
