The “deadline” is quickly approaching for a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire: Will Trump postpone the date again?

White House advisor Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, as the deadline set by President Trump for the Kremlin to reach a ceasefire agreement with Kyiv approaches.

This isn’t Witkoff’s first trip to Moscow to meet with the Russian leader. Previous meetings have been described by the White House as helpful, though ultimately insufficient to secure a ceasefire. This week’s talks come at a critical moment, with Trump’s deadline set to expire on Friday—though there’s always the possibility he’ll push it back, especially if developments give him a way to do so without appearing weak. Without an agreement, Trump had warned that he would impose 100 percent tariffs on any imports coming into the US. He also cautioned another countries from trading with Russia, as that could put them at risk of secondary sanctions, should a ceasefire not be reached.

Presidnet Trump pressures Russia to reach a ceasefire with Ukraine

In early July, President Trump gave the Russian government 50 days to reach a deal to avoid punitive sanctions and high tariffs on imports that have continued to flow into the U.S. However, later that month, he shortened the deadline to just 10 days. The current deadline is set to expire on Friday, with both sides continuing to carry out strikes—most recently, Russian attacks on Ukraine’s gas infrastructure.

Trump has made moves suggesting he may be serious about sanctioning Russia—and potentially some of the countries that continue doing business with it. India, for example, could face higher tariffs due to its ongoing purchases of Russian energy resources. Though Prime Minister Narendra Modi has long been a close ally of Trump, his right-wing credentials may not be enough to prevent the White House from imposing new tariffs on Indian imports. Trump made these threats during an interview on CNBC on Monday, August 3, where he also mentioned his interest in seeking a third term—an idea that the vast majority of legal scholars say would be unconstitutional.

Moving up the deadline sets of a tit-for-tat

During meetings with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his golf property in Scotland, President Trump dramatically adjusted the timeline, a move that was not well received by some within the Russian government. Shortly after Trump announced his push for a ceasefire on a much shorter timeline, Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chair of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, posted on X that the U.S. president was mistaken in his approach. Medvedev described Trump’s strategy as an “ultimatum game with Russia,” warning that “Russia isn’t Israel or even Iran,” and that “each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war—not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country.”

In response, President Trump announced that he had moved two nuclear submarines into the “appropriate regions.” Some critics viewed the move as needlessly provocative, given the delicate balance of diplomacy that Witcoff is now navigating. Trump has shown growing frustration with Putin, whom he accuses of stringing him along while continuing deadly attacks across Ukraine. Although Trump has made it clear he’s not a strong supporter of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he has acknowledged that, in recent months, Ukraine has appeared willing to negotiate with the Kremlin in good faith to bring an end to the bloodshed.

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