Trump Imposes August 8 Deadline as Zelenskyy Calls for Talks with Putin

Download IPFS

Former United States (U.S.) President Donald Trump has announced a firm deadline of 8 August for a ceasefire agreement in the Russia–Ukraine war, coinciding with renewed appeals from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for direct dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The developments signal a fresh push for diplomacy amid intensifying violence on the ground.

Posting on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump revealed that two U.S. nuclear submarines had been repositioned in response to what he described as “highly provocative statements” from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who now serves as Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council. “Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences,” Trump cautioned.

Speaking the same day at the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council briefing, Acting U.S. Representative to the U.N., John Kelley, affirmed the Trump-imposed deadline. “President Trump has made clear this must be done by August 8. The United States is prepared to implement additional measures to secure peace,” Kelley stated. He reiterated America’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and right to self-defence.

Kelley also expressed concern over growing international support for Moscow. He named North Korea and Iran as direct suppliers of weapons to Russia and identified China as a “decisive enabler” by providing industrial resources critical to Russia’s military production, even though Beijing has stopped short of sending arms.

Russia’s stance at the diplomatic level has remained firm. In a statement, the Russian Mission to the U.N. reiterated that Moscow does not aim to destroy Ukraine, but seeks what it calls “cultural coexistence” between the two nations. However, recent actions on the ground have starkly contradicted those claims. According to Ukrainian officials, a deadly airstrike on Kyiv launched early Thursday involved more than 300 drones and eight missiles, resulting in the deaths of 31 civilians, including five children, and over 150 injuries. Reuters confirmed the toll, reporting it as the deadliest strike on the capital this year.

As the 8 August deadline approaches, pressure is mounting on both sides. Trump’s direct involvement represents a shift from conventional diplomatic efforts, injecting new urgency into the search for a political resolution. Whether his initiative leads to a breakthrough or further escalates tensions remains uncertain, but global attention is now fixed firmly on the days ahead.