Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said the world may have a chance to end Russia’s war against Ukraine as early as this week. His remarks were published in The Washington Post on August 4.
“Later this week, the world may be presented with an opportunity to end the war Russian President Vladimir Putin has been waging against Ukraine,” Yermak wrote.
He pointed to US President Donald Trump’s recent remarks, saying they sent a strong warning to Moscow.
“President Donald Trump has made it clear Russia will soon face serious consequences if it doesn’t immediately come to the negotiating table. By cutting back the previous 50-day window down to just 10 days last week, the US president sent an unmistakable signal to Putin. These signals need to be followed up with decisive action for the war to end,” Yermak wrote.
Yermak stressed that now is the time to act, emphasizing the urgency of Trump’s shortened timeline and the need to follow through.
“Russia’s war against Ukraine poses broader dangers for the world. When a fire rages this ferociously, one must act before its flames consume everything. Trump’s latest statements suggest he has seen through the smoke and understands the stakes,” he added.
“The ultimatum he has given to Putin expires later this week. Thousands of lives depend on the success of what follows. The tools to stop Russia exist. What is needed is the political will to use them with precision and force.”
On July 14, Trump warned that sanctions could follow if the Kremlin continued to stall negotiations with Ukraine. Two weeks later, on July 28, he tightened the pressure by slashing the original 50-day timeline for a ceasefire to just 10–12 days.
-9220540186162ee79463169b5478a8d5.jpg "Soldiers of Ukraine’s 40th Coastal Defense Brigade prepare a SHARK UAV for a mission in Kherson region, January 2025. (Source: Getty Images)")
