**Trump Sets New Ultimatum for Ukraine Ceasefire Within 12 Days**

*Trump's ultimatum comes as the conflict continues unabated, raising questions about the possibility of peace amid ongoing hostilities.*

Former President Donald Trump has announced a significantly shortened deadline, urging Russia to agree to a ceasefire in the ongoing Ukraine conflict within "ten or 12 days" from Monday. During a press conference in Scotland, he expressed disappointment with President Vladimir Putin, emphasizing that there is "no reason" to prolong discussions given the lack of tangible progress towards peace.

This fresh deadline follows Trump’s earlier assertion, made two weeks ago, that Putin had a window of 50 days to bring the war to an end or face substantial tariffs imposed by the United States. At the press briefing, he indicated that he would formalize the new timeframe soon and reiterated the threat of imposing sanctions on Russia, potentially increasing tariffs to a staggering 100% on goods traded with the country.

The ramifications of such tariffs could create economic challenges for both Russia and its trading partners, as American businesses would likely seek alternative sources for goods, resulting in significant revenue loss for Moscow. Trump addressed the gravity of the situation while discussing the ongoing war, which has continued fiercely for three and a half years following Russia's full-scale invasion.

After his meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump lamented the ongoing violence in Ukraine, drawing attention to the disparity between Putin's assurances during their private discussions and the reality of missiles consistently bombarding Ukrainian cities. "We were supposed to have a ceasefire and maybe peace... but now you have these missiles hitting Kyiv and elsewhere," he lamented.

While he refrained from outright claiming that Putin deceived him, he expressed frustration with the repeated failures in negotiations, stating it might now be "very late down the process" for dialogue. However, despite this, he claimed to have maintained a good relationship with the Russian leader historically.

The Kremlin has yet to issue a response to Trump's ultimatum. When Trump initially laid out his 50-day deadline, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted its seriousness, but remarked that Russia needed time for thorough analysis. Russian MP Andrey Gurulyov responded to Trump's recent statements by asserting that such ultimatums have lost their effectiveness both on the battlefield and in the capital.

Ukrainian officials, including presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak, welcomed Trump's message. Yermak characterized it as a "clear message of peace through strength," insisting that Putin only respects demonstrated power.

As Russia intensifies its military operations, launching numerous drones and missiles on Ukrainian cities, the prospect for peace seems distant. Despite previous ceasefire talks mediated by Turkey leading to exchanges of prisoners, they have not succeeded in generating any substantial agreements. With Russia's conditions for peace, such as Ukraine's neutrality and military reductions, deemed unacceptable by Kyiv and its Western allies, expectations for a swift resolution remain bleak. A recent round of negotiations ended with Peskov claiming a breakthrough was "hardly possible," indicated the challenges that both nations face in reaching an accord.