Trump Sets Ten-Day Deadline for Russia: A Call for Decisive Action

US President Donald Trump has made it clear that his patience with Russian President Vladimir Putin is waning. This week, Trump shortened the deadline for Russia to agree to halt military operations from 50 days to just ten. 'There is no reason to wait,' he declared on Monday during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland. In his remarks, Trump outlined two potential measures he could implement following the deadline: additional sanctions on Russia and significant tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil or gas. While these actions may provide some leverage, the more pressing question for the White House is what actions might compel Putin to accept the peace deal Trump has advocated since before taking office. Since beginning his aggressive military campaign with the attack on Georgia in 2008, and further escalating with the annexation of Crimea in 2014, Putin has proven resilient against Western opposition. However, Trump now has an opportunity to change that dynamic. To do so, he must abandon the cautious approach of the Biden Administration and take decisive military and economic actions to curb further Russian advancements on the battlefield, as highlighted by analyst John E. Herbst, director of the Eurasia Center at the Atlantic Council and former US ambassador to Ukraine. Herbst has proposed several strategies, including the provision of offensive weapons to Ukraine. The Trump administration could honor its commitment to send advanced weapons to Ukraine, with costs covered by European allies. In addition to Patriot missiles for defense, Trump could threaten the deployment of Tomahawk missiles with a range exceeding one thousand miles if Russia does not cease its bombing campaigns against Ukrainian cities and civilians within the ten-day deadline. Such a move could incentivize Germany to also take action with its Taurus missiles and would prompt the US to swiftly negotiate an agreement with Ukraine for joint production of advanced drones, significantly bolstering Ukraine's defense capabilities. Another step Trump could take to enhance NATO's deterrent capacity is to build upon the recent successes at the NATO summit in The Hague. By announcing that any Russian missile or drone crossing into NATO airspace bound for Ukraine would be treated as a hostile target, the US could significantly alter the chessboard of international military engagements. In terms of economic pressure, Trump expressed intentions to impose secondary tariffs on Russia's trading partners, notably China and India, if Putin fails to agree to a ceasefire. With growing momentum in Congress towards a sanctions bill led by Senator Lindsey Graham, Trump has previously shown he could unilaterally increase tariffs. Such a move could cripple the Russian economy, which heavily relies on the sale of hydrocarbons to these nations. The United States could also reinforce international cooperation to dismantle the shadow fleet smuggling Russian oil. Following the capture of a Chinese component-laden Russian drone on the battlefield, imposing sanctions on China for violating the arms embargo would further intensify the pressure on Russia. Managing the transfer of nearly $300 billion of frozen Russian state assets to Ukraine would be another effective strategy. As Putin is confident in his ability to withstand Western support for Ukraine, utilizing these frozen assets could provide Ukraine with military and economic resources for over three years. Trump has demonstrated successful negotiation skills with European counterparts and could leverage this to press for greater action in support of Ukraine. Implementing these measures in rapid succession could severely undermine Putin's belief that time is on his side, providing the best opportunity for him to engage in meaningful negotiations for a lasting peace. As Trump himself remarked, 'there is no reason to wait.' Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2