MOSCOW, Russia — The Kremlin has issued a stern response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s dramatic ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin, warning that the fresh wave of NATO-backed military support to Ukraine will embolden Kyiv to continue fighting rather than seek peace.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, that Trump’s remarks, delivered during a joint appearance with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, were “very serious,” particularly those addressed directly to President Putin.
“We certainly need time to analyse what was said in Washington,” Peskov told reporters.
“But it is already clear that the decisions taken by Washington and NATO capitals are perceived by the Ukrainian side not as a signal for peace, but as a signal to continue the war.”
On Monday, July 14, 2025, Trump announced a multi-billion dollar arms deal with NATO allies to rapidly deliver new weapon systems — including Patriot missile batteries — to Ukraine, with the costs covered by European partners.
The former U.S. president also gave Moscow a 50-day deadline to agree to a peace deal or face sweeping 100% tariffs and “secondary sanctions” targeting countries that buy Russian exports.
The Kremlin’s top officials reacted with disdain to Trump’s threat.
Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president and now deputy chair of the Security Council, called the ultimatum “theatrical” and said Moscow was unfazed.
Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s deputy foreign minister, dismissed the U.S. approach entirely.
“Issuing ultimatums to Moscow is both unacceptable and pointless,” he said.
President Putin himself has remained silent on Trump’s remarks, though the two leaders have spoken at least six times by phone this year.
In Moscow’s media circles, there was both surprise and disappointment.
The respected Kommersant newspaper ran a front-page headline invoking betrayal: “Et tu, Trump – the main peacekeeper of Ukrainian conflict joined the ‘party of war’”, referencing Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar.
Trump, who has previously signalled admiration for Putin and positioned himself as a potential broker of peace, struck a markedly different tone this week.
“I don’t want to say he’s an assassin, but he’s a tough guy,” Trump said of Putin, adding that he had grown increasingly “disappointed” with the Russian leader, particularly for launching fresh missile strikes on Ukrainian cities after promising talks of peace.
A White House official confirmed that the administration plans to move forward with 100% tariffs and sweeping secondary sanctions targeting buyers of Russian commodities if Moscow does not come to the negotiating table within the 50-day window.
“We can do secondary [sanctions],” Trump said.
“We’re probably talking about 100 percent or something like that. We can do secondary tariffs without the Senate, without the House.”
Eighty-five U.S. senators are now co-sponsoring a bill that would authorise Trump to impose tariffs as high as 500% on countries assisting Russia.
The focus is on nations like China, India, and Turkey — the biggest buyers of Russian oil.
Analysts say such punitive measures would mark an unprecedented escalation in the West’s economic war on Russia and could dramatically alter the global energy and trade landscape.
Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported that Trump had encouraged Ukraine to strike targets deeper into Russian territory, and had even asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky whether he could “hit Moscow” if provided with long-range weapons.
Russian state television on Tuesday, July 15, 2025 sought to counter the diplomatic shockwaves by showcasing battlefield gains in Ukraine and playing down the impact of Trump’s warning.
Reports highlighted fresh drone attacks launched by Kyiv into Russian territory that injured 18 civilians, while also stressing that Russian troops now control nearly 20% of Ukraine.
Putin continues to insist he is open to peace — but only “on Russia’s terms,” with no ceasefire possible until the framework of any agreement is fully defined.
