Trump Sets Two-Week Deadline for Ukraine Peace Deal
Trump sets tight deadline for Russia-Ukraine peace talks.
US President Donald Trump has given Russia and Ukraine a two-week deadline to show progress in peace negotiations, intensifying his push to end the war that has gripped Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. In a telephone interview with Newsmax host Todd Starnes on August 21, 2025, Trump stated, “I would say within two weeks we’re going to know one way or the other,” hinting at a potential shift in strategy if talks falter. “After that, we’ll have to maybe take a different tack,” he added, without elaborating.
The announcement follows a high-profile summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, on August 15, where no agreement was reached, and Trump abandoned his earlier push for an immediate ceasefire. Instead, he now favors a direct peace agreement, a stance that aligns more closely with Russia’s preference to continue fighting while negotiating. The summit, facilitated by Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, was described as productive but left key issues unresolved, particularly Russia’s demand for Ukraine to cede the Donbas region and abandon NATO aspirations.
On Monday, August 18, Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House, raising hopes for a potential Putin-Zelenskyy summit. However, tensions persist. Zelenskyy accused Russia of dodging direct talks, stating on August 21 that Moscow “does not want to end the war.” Russia countered that Ukraine’s demands for NATO-backed security guarantees are incompatible with Moscow’s terms, which include Ukraine’s withdrawal from Donbas and neutrality.
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Trump’s history of setting two-week deadlines for Ukraine talks, as seen in May when he vowed to reassess Putin’s commitment, underscores his growing frustration. Despite campaign promises to resolve the conflict in “one day,” the war, now in its fourth year, remains a complex challenge. With Russia controlling roughly a fifth of Ukraine, including 88% of Donbas, and ongoing strikes killing civilians, the stakes are high. European leaders, including Germany’s Friedrich Merz, insist that any deal must respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and involve Kyiv directly.
As the deadline looms, analysts question whether Trump’s pressure will yield results or push him to escalate measures, such as the sanctions he threatened earlier. “If Russia doesn’t show real intent, Trump may pivot to tougher actions, but his reluctance to act on past threats raises doubts,” said political scientist Samuel Charap. The coming weeks will test whether Trump’s diplomatic gamble can break the deadlock or deepen the divide.
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