Russian President Vladimir Putin has voiced hopes for further peace talks with Ukraine, but stressed his troops were “advancing on the entire front line”, despite the threat of looming US sanctions if a ceasefire was not agreed upon. “All disappointments arise from inflated expectations,” Putin said, in an apparent reference to Trump’s “disappointment” with the Russian leader for not bringing an end to the war.
Speaking a day after one of the deadliest Russian air attacks on Kyiv, Putin repeated his demands for Ukrainian neutrality and recognition of the occupied territories, which Ukraine views as a capitulation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready to meet Putin “any time”.
Putin was speaking during a visit to the Valaam Monastery in north-western Russia. He said he expected negotiations with Ukraine to continue, adding that he viewed “negotiations positively”. But in a veiled reference to growing pressure from Ukraine and its Western allies to agree to a long-term ceasefire, he said: “As for any disappointments on the part of anyone, all disappointments arise from inflated expectations.”
“Our enemies and ill-wishers… now have one fiery passion: to stop our advance [on the front line in Ukraine] at any cost”. Ukraine and its allies have repeatedly accused Russia of stalling peace negotiations and rejecting any meaningful ceasefire, saying Moscow is trying to seize more Ukrainian territories.
Three rounds of Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul, Turkey, in recent months ended without any major breakthrough. The two sides, however, agreed to swap several thousands of prisoners of war. Speaking shortly after Putin’s comments, Zelensky questioned whether Russia was showing “serious readiness to end the war with dignity and establish a truly lasting peace” or whether it was “just an attempt to buy more time for war and postpone sanctions”.
In recent weeks, Russia has intensified its deadly drone and missile strikes on Ukraine. On Thursday, at least 31 people – including five children – were killed in a Russian aerial assault on the Ukrainian capital. US President Donald Trump condemned Russia’s actions, threatening new sanctions.
“Russia, I think it’s disgusting what they’re doing,” he told journalists. When in July Trump announced his original 50-day deadline for Russia to end the war, Putin didn’t react. When that was reduced to 10-12 days, Putin said nothing. But on Friday the Kremlin leader left little doubt that he would not be swayed by a White House ultimatum.
Trump may claim to be “disappointed” with Putin for not making peace – but the Russian leader is unrepentant. His guest on the Valaam island, Belarus’ authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, was more direct in his dismissal of Trump’s deadline. “50 days, 60 days, 10 days. You don’t do politics like that,” Lukashenko said.
Experience shows that, for Trump, deadlines are not set in stone. But on paper, at least, his latest deadline expires on August 8. If by then Russia hasn’t signed up to a ceasefire in Ukraine, it will face more sanctions – so in theory will countries that buy Russian oil. But judging by what the Russian state media has been saying in recent days, many in Moscow doubt the White House will go through with its threat of tougher sanctions.
What’s more, from what Putin said on Friday about Russia advancing along the entire front line in Ukraine, he clearly believes a ceasefire now is not in Moscow’s best interest. Ukrainian officials on Friday said Kyiv had received “positive signals” from the US about potential new sanctions. A day earlier, senior US diplomat John Kelley told the UN Security Council that Russia and Ukraine “must negotiate a ceasefire and durable peace”. “It is time to make a deal,” he said.
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, who is currently in Israel, would visit Russia next, the US president said earlier this week. He gave no further details.