US President Donald Trump has again sharply criticised Russia. Trump called Russia’s actions “disgusting” and promised to impose new sanctions against Moscow.
“I think what they’re doing is disgusting,” Trump told reporters at the White House on 31 July. “I think what Russia is doing is very sad. A lot of Russians are getting killed,” he added.
According to the US president, the United States plans to impose new sanctions against Moscow. He did not specify details, but added: “I don’t know if sanctions bother him,” referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Western countries have imposed a series of financial measures against Russia in an attempt to deny the Kremlin the funding it needs to wage war against Ukraine.
The US president said his special envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Moscow after travelling to Israel, where he is discussing the situation in Gaza with Israeli officials.
“He’s going to Russia. Believe it or not,” Trump told reporters.
The remarks came hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for “regime change” in the Kremlin, saying it was the only way to prevent Russia from attempting to “destabilise” the region in the future.
Meanwhile, at the United Nations on 31 July, top US diplomat John Kelly told the Security Council that Trump was adamant about the announced deadline of 8 August to reach a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine.
“Both Russia and Ukraine must agree on a ceasefire and a lasting peace. It’s time to make a deal. President Trump has made it clear that this must be done by 8 August,” he said.
Separately, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that after six months of diplomatic talks, Trump would soon be forced to decide how to continue his ceasefire efforts if either side refused to accept a truce.
Rubio said U.S. and Russian officials have held talks on Russian Federation’s war on Ukraine, but Washington has seen “no progress”.
Trump, who has said he is” very disappointed” with Putin for refusing to stop the war, announced on 29 July that he would shorten the previously announced 50-day deadline for the Russian leader to reach a ceasefire agreement to “10-12 days”.
Trump has said the United States will impose new duties on Russia if it refuses to accept a ceasefire. Zelensky said he was ready to accept such a ceasefire and offered a direct meeting with Putin, which the Kremlin rejected.
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov gave a brief response to the 10-12 day deadline on 29 July, saying the Kremlin had “taken into account” Trump’s comments.