Putin Signals No Shift on Ukraine as Trump’s Sanctions Deadline Looms

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that Moscow remains open to further peace talks with Ukraine, but emphasized that the military momentum is now in Russia’s favor—signaling no change in his position despite growing pressure from Washington.

U.S. President Donald Trump has vowed to impose sweeping new sanctions on Russia—and on nations that continue buying its energy exports, including major importers China and India—if Russia does not act by August 8 to end its three-and-a-half-year war in Ukraine.

Trump, in increasingly sharp language, accused Putin of “bullshit” and condemned Russia’s latest attacks on Ukraine as “disgusting.” The comments reflect mounting frustration in Washington as hopes fade for a quick resolution to the war.

Putin, speaking at a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at the historic Valaam Monastery, did not address Trump’s ultimatum directly. Instead, he pointed to progress in three rounds of peace talks and said Russia expected negotiations to continue.

“All disappointments arise from inflated expectations,” Putin said. “In order to approach the issue peacefully, it is necessary to conduct detailed conversations—not in public, but in the quiet of the negotiation process.”

Despite his call for diplomacy, Putin also confirmed that Russian forces are advancing across the entire front line, claiming victory in the eastern Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar after a 16-month battle. Ukraine has disputed that claim, saying the town is not fully under Russian control.

Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to push for an immediate ceasefire, accusing Russia of using talks to stall while escalating attacks, especially on Kyiv. Since peace negotiations began in Istanbul in May, Russia has carried out some of the heaviest airstrikes of the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated his call for direct talks with Putin, arguing that only the Russian leader can end the war.

“We understand who makes the decisions in Russia, and who must end this war. The whole world understands this too,” Zelensky said in a post on X. “The United States has proposed this. Ukraine supports it. What’s needed is Russia’s readiness.”

Moscow, however, insists a leaders’ summit can only happen once negotiators reach substantive agreements. Kyiv and its Western allies remain skeptical of Putin’s intentions, accusing him of prolonging the war under the guise of diplomacy—a claim the Kremlin denies.

“We need a long and lasting peace on good foundations that satisfy both Russia and Ukraine, and ensure the security of both countries,” Putin said. “This is also a question of European security.”

The comments come as Trump prepares to escalate economic pressure on Moscow, with a package of new sanctions expected within days unless Russia reverses course.

Despite the religious setting of his talks with Lukashenko, Putin’s tone was unchanged: peace, he said, will come only on Russia’s terms—and only when the battlefield has delivered the leverage Moscow seeks.