Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the Kremlin has taken note of US President Donald Trump's reduced ultimatum deadline for Vladimir Putin, shortened from 50 to 10 days. However, Russia's actual plans in response remain unclear, and President Putin has refrained from commenting.
Recall that Trump called on Russia to engage in peace talks and a ceasefire on the Russian-Ukrainian front, setting a clear deadline. After this, the Kremlin only vaguely noted that Putin would respond personally, though two weeks have passed without any public reaction from the Russian president.
Reactions from Russian officials have been limited to calls for US leaders to mind their own affairs and reiterating the goals of the "special military operation." Analysts note that despite the duration of fighting, Russia has not achieved its stated military objectives in Donbas.
Putin's silence appears related to the exhausted trust from Trump, who, after multiple unproductive conversations, has seen no progress. While Russia gained some diplomatic leverage from talks with the US, no real breakthrough toward peace occurred.
Alternatively, Putin may be waiting to see if Trump can enforce his threats—imposing tough sanctions on Russia's energy partners or increasing military aid to Ukraine. Only if US actions pose a real risk to his regime will Putin's response change.
For now, his lack of reaction seems to be strategic, as the Russian leader observes whether the US warnings will have real impact on the course of the war.
