US President Trump is increasing the pressure on Kremlin chief Putin - triggering a sharp reaction in Moscow.

US President Donald Trump's new ultimatum in his efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine has provoked conflicting reactions in Moscow and Kyiv. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned of a war between Russia and the US. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, viewed Trump's announcement as a step toward peace, which can only be achieved from a position of strength.

Yesterday, during a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump announced that he would increase pressure on the Kremlin. He would reduce the 50-day deadline, after which significantly higher tariffs on Russia's trading partners would be imposed, to "ten or twelve" days, the 79-year-old said. The new target takes effect "from today" (Monday), he added. This shortens the original deadline for reaching a ceasefire or peace agreement, originally set for early September, to less than two weeks.

Trump justified his actions by saying he was disappointed with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. Although he was in talks with the Russian president about ending the war, Putin continued firing rockets at Ukrainian cities.

The new 100 percent punitive tariff is intended to encourage Russia's trading partners - especially China and India - to either buy less Russian oil and gas or to put pressure on the raw materials power to reach a peaceful solution in Ukraine.

So far, Putin, unlike Ukrainian President Zelensky, has rejected proposals for an unconditional ceasefire. He justified this by arguing that Ukraine could use the ceasefire to gain new strength to continue the war with new arms deliveries from its allies, further mobilization of soldiers, and a regrouping of troops on the defensive. At the same time, Russia is sticking to its own demands, which come close to Kyiv's capitulation.

Moscow had already reacted unfazed to Trump's original 50-day ultimatum with new attacks on Ukraine. While the Kremlin initially remained silent about the shortened deadline, Russia's former President Medvedev responded with a threat: Every ultimatum from Trump would be a step on the road to war, he wrote on Platform X. "Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country." Trump must not follow the path of his predecessor, Joe Biden, warned Medvedev, who continues to wield considerable influence in Moscow as head of the National Security Council.

Biden had clearly taken a position in favor of Ukraine in the war that has been ongoing since February 2022. Trump's election victory in November was greeted with great relief on the Russian side, and even after taking office, the Republican continued to stand out with his comparatively pro-Kremlin stance.

In contrast to Medvedev, Ukrainian President Zelensky praised Trump's new tone. "We have repeatedly emphasized – and all partners know this – that sanctions are a key element," he said in his evening video message. Peace through strength is possible because Russia is feeling the effects of the sanctions and the resulting losses, the Ukrainian expressed optimism.

According to him, Russia is not currently interested in peace. Rather, the Russian leadership is doing everything it can to prolong the war and harm its neighbor. He cited the nighttime air strikes as an example. Last night alone, Ukrainian air defenses intercepted around 300 Russian drones, said Zelensky, who recently declared the production of interceptor drones a priority.

But the Ukrainian leadership doesn't want to limit its national defense to defensive measures alone. In his speech, Zelenskyy announced a strengthening of the SBU intelligence agency. With a corresponding law, he specifically increased the troop strength of the Special Operations Center. This unit is one of the most effective in defending against the Russian invasion.

In early June, the SBU launched a spectacular strike against Russia's strategic bomber fleet. Truck-loaded drones attacked military airfields deep in the Russian hinterland, destroying about a dozen bombers Russia had used to attack Ukraine.