The former president made his ultimatum following a call with Ukraine’s Zelensky, signaling a pivot back toward Kyiv’s terms amid fragile negotiations.
WASHINGTON — Former President Donald J. Trump warned on Thursday that the United States would impose additional sanctions on Russia if it fails to accept an extended cease-fire in its war against Ukraine — marking his strongest public alignment yet with Kyiv’s position in ongoing truce negotiations.
The statement, posted late Thursday on Mr. Trump’s Truth Social platform after a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, signaled a notable shift by the Trump administration after weeks of diplomatic concessions to Moscow, including warmer bilateral ties and opposition to a U.N. resolution condemning Russia’s aggression.
“If the ceasefire is not respected, the U.S. and its partners will impose further sanctions,” Mr. Trump wrote. He added that Washington “calls for, ideally, a 30-day unconditional ceasefire.”
Mr. Zelensky quickly welcomed the statement, writing on X early Friday: “Ukraine is ready for a full ceasefire starting right now, from this very moment.”
A Pivot Toward Ukraine
The Trump administration’s earlier efforts had proposed a temporary truce to facilitate peace talks, suggesting a 30-day halt to fighting during a March summit in Saudi Arabia. Ukraine had endorsed the proposal, but Moscow insisted on first agreeing to settlement terms before stopping hostilities.
Tensions escalated further after a meeting between Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelensky at Pope Francis’s funeral in Vatican City last month, where Mr. Trump issued a veiled warning that sanctions could follow if Russia continued to stall negotiations. His post on Thursday marked his most direct public ultimatum to Moscow so far.
A readout from Mr. Zelensky’s office said the two leaders exchanged congratulations for the anniversary of World War II’s end in Europe — marked on May 8 in both the U.S. and Ukraine — and that Mr. Trump had “confirmed that he wants to see this war ended and is ready to help.”
In a separate interview on Fox News, Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that the U.S. could withdraw from negotiations if Russia continues to refuse to negotiate “in good faith.”
Cease-Fire Breakdown and Drone Strikes
The diplomatic push came after Ukraine rejected a Russian offer of a three-day cease-fire surrounding Moscow’s May 9 Victory Day parade, calling it inadequate for negotiating any meaningful peace deal. Ukrainian officials accused the Kremlin of using the proposal merely to reassure foreign dignitaries attending the event, which included Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Despite the proposed holiday truce, fighting persisted along the front lines. Ukraine’s military reported 193 combat engagements across its 700-mile-long eastern front in the past 24 hours. In the lead-up to Victory Day, both sides exchanged drone attacks that disrupted airports in Moscow and killed two civilians in Kyiv.
Meanwhile, Putin presided over Russia’s largest Victory Day parade since the start of the war. Foreign ministers from 15 European nations gathered simultaneously in Lviv, Ukraine, where they announced plans to establish a special tribunal to prosecute Russian leaders for the crime of aggression — a move timed to undercut Russia’s celebrations and affirm continued European support for Ukraine.
European officials acknowledged that the legal effort will be long and complex, and that it is unlikely that high-level Russian figures such as Putin will face trial anytime soon. Still, the symbolic weight of the announcement was clear.
Tensions Flare With Hungary, Stalin Bust Unveiled
Adding to the geopolitical tensions, Ukraine’s domestic intelligence agency announced Friday the arrest of a Hungarian spy ring operating in the western Zakarpattia region. Officials said the group had been collecting military intelligence — a rare public accusation against a NATO member state.
In occupied Mariupol, Russia sparked outrage by unveiling a bust of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, decorated with red carnations, as part of its Victory Day events. A plaque lauded his wartime leadership — a move likely to provoke deep resentment in Ukraine, where Stalin is widely blamed for the Holodomor, the 1930s famine that killed millions and is recognized as genocide by Kyiv and several other governments.
