Key Points and Summary – President Donald Trump has set a firm August 8 deadline for his ultimatum to Russia, demanding a ceasefire in Ukraine or face severe economic consequences.
-Acknowledging that Russia is unlikely to comply, Trump has already fired the first shot in his promised secondary sanctions campaign.
-In a fiery social media post, he announced a 25% tariff on India, plus an additional “penalty,” for its continued purchase of Russian energy and military equipment.
-The move puts a key U.S. partner in the crosshairs and dramatically raises the stakes as the new, shorter deadline approaches.
Russia Faces an August 8 Deadline on Ukraine
President Donald Trump, in early July, announced a 50-day deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine, or else face secondary tariffs on its energy partners, at the same time announcing that new weapons would be made available to Ukraine.
After Russia showed little indication of responding to the threat, Trump said last weekend that he was moving the deadline up to “10 or 12 days.”
On Wednesday, Trump clarified what, exactly, the deadline is.
Per Politico, the president has said that the deadline is now August 8, which is 10 days away.
“And then we’re going to put on tariffs,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One, while flying back from Scotland.
“And I don’t know if it’s going to affect Russia, because he wants to, obviously, probably keep the war going.”
The president added that he has not heard directly from Russia about the tariff threat.
Not on Day One
Known throughout his first term for being unusually close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump has been critical of Putin since returning to office, mostly after Trump’s oft-repeated campaign promise to end the Russia-Ukraine war on his first day back in the White House did not come to pass.
Many had speculated that the war would end on terms favorable to Russia, especially after Trump and Vice President JD Vance dressed down Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office and told him publicly that the war could not be won.
Putin, however, appears committed to achieving gains in the war beyond what Trump is willing to offer.
Both Russia and Ukraine replied to the announcement, per ABC News.
“Clear stance and expressed determination by POTUS — right on time, when a lot can change through strength for real peace,” Ukraine’s president Zelenskyy said on X. “I thank President Trump for his focus on saving lives and stopping this horrible war… Ukraine remains committed to peace and will work tirelessly with the U.S. to make both our countries safer, stronger, and more prosperous.”
The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov responded as well. The Kremlin, he said, “took note of President Trump’s statement yesterday,” but he “would like to avoid any assessments.”
The India Penalty
Meanwhile, Trump, per The BBC, has announced 25 percent tariffs on India, in addition to a “penalty” for India for continuing to trade with Russia. That appears to be the first salvo in the “secondary tariffs” threat, as India purchases energy from Russia.
The threat came despite Trump being mostly simpatico with India’s President Narendra Modi over the years.
“Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday.
The president continued, switching to all caps once he started talking about Russia and Ukraine.
“Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia’s largest buyer of ENERGY, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE — ALL THINGS NOT GOOD! INDIA WILL THEREFORE BE PAYING A TARIFF OF 25%, PLUS A PENALTY FOR THE ABOVE, STARTING ON AUGUST FIRST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. MAGA!”
“WE HAVE A MASSIVE TRADE DEFICIT WITH INDIA!!!” Trump declared in a later Truth Social post.
India, per the BBC, did not respond immediately to Trump’s tariff announcement.
“We continue to speak with our Indian counterparts. We’ve always had very constructive discussions with them,” US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said this week, per The BBC.
About the Author: Stephen Silver
Stephen Silver is an award-winning journalist, essayist, and film critic, and contributor to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Broad Street Review, and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. For over a decade, Stephen has authored thousands of articles that focus on politics, national security, technology, and the economy. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @StephenSilver, and subscribe to his Substack newsletter.
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Jim
July 30, 2025 at 3:57 pm
Given that Trump always touted the Kellog peace plan and never wavered in having Kellog work with the Ukrainians & Europeans, I submit the Kellog plan was always Trump’s objective all along, that was his way to end the war and claim a win.
But the Kellop plan was always a Korean-style armistice. Where NATO states would rebuild Kiev’s military and create a de facto NATOized state, it’s military trained and working with NATO, if not an official NATO member… maybe after some time and down the road a bit.
Trump thought the “plan” would be a win he could tout, to the public and the Washington Establishment as it “wasn’t his war” and 80% of Ukraine would be incorporated in this NATO-adjacent state with a Banderite government itching to confront Russia. (The banderite part would be left out of Trump’s bragging points.)
I suspect advisors to Trump told him a Korean-style armistice would be something the Russians would readily agree to. Because they weren’t giving Trump an accurate assessment of where the war really was in terms of who was winning and who was losing. Thus, now finding out the truth, Trump has become frustrated his original cease fire plan which he had wanted all along wouldn’t work.
The Russians are not going to do a Korean-style armistice… no way, no how. Keeping NATO out of Ukraine was the reason for the invasion in the first place. It’s an existential issue in their view and will suffer whatever sanctions to guarantee a NATO-adjacent Ukraine never materializes West any dividing line.
They’ve worked around and overcome the sanctions.
We will see how this plays out.
My bet. Trump won’t get a Korean-style armistice (what he wanted from the start), but instead the capitulation terms put forward by the Russians.
Can he handle that? Who knows… or will he take us to World War Three in a tantrum and fit of ego & narcissism?