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Putin Defies Trump’s Ceasefire Ultimatum—Insists on Full Occupation of Ukraine
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![Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko]( "Photo of Dariia Mykhailenko")
Russian leader Vladimir Putin is unlikely to comply with US President Donald Trump’s ceasefire ultimatum, which expires this Friday, August 8, and remains committed to seizing full control of four Ukrainian regions, Reuters reports on August 5, citing sources close to the Kremlin.
Trump has threatened to impose sweeping new sanctions on Russia and 100% tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil—primarily targeting China and India—unless Putin agrees to halt the war in Ukraine.
According to Reuters, three individuals familiar with internal Kremlin discussions, claim that Putin believes Russia holds the upper hand and doubts that additional US sanctions would significantly impact the country’s economy, which has already endured more than three years of restrictions.
While the Russian leader reportedly does not want to provoke Trump or miss a chance to reset relations with Washington and the West, his military objectives take priority. Two of the sources said that Putin is focused on fully occupying the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions—territories Russia has claimed as its own—before engaging in any serious peace talks.
One source noted that the current negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives—including three meetings since May—have been largely symbolic. Issues such as prisoner exchanges and humanitarian matters have been discussed indirectly, without any substantial negotiation framework.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is expected to visit Russia this week in what may be the final opportunity to reach a deal before the ultimatum deadline.
However, sources emphasized that while Putin is wary of a complete rupture with the West, he is not prepared to change course.
Earlier, it was reported that rhe Kremlin toned down its public nuclear rhetoric following a social media standoff between Russian officials and US President Donald Trump, which escalated into the deployment of American nuclear submarines near Russian territorial waters.
