WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday gave Russia 50 days to agree to a ceasefire in its war with Ukraine or face a new round of economic measures, escalating pressure on Moscow while renewing his call for an end to the more than four-year conflict.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said his administration would impose additional sanctions if Russia failed to make progress toward a ceasefire within the deadline. He said the measures would include secondary sanctions aimed at increasing economic pressure on countries and entities continuing significant business with Russia.
Trump said his objective was to halt the fighting rather than prolong the conflict, adding that he wanted both sides to reach an agreement that would stop further loss of life. Asked about reports that he had privately encouraged Ukraine to intensify strikes inside Russia, including against Moscow, Trump rejected the suggestion.
"No, he shouldn't target Moscow," Trump told reporters, saying he was focused on ending the war and was "on humanity's side."
The announcement came as Western allies continued discussions on long-term security arrangements for Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement. At a meeting in Paris, members of the so-called "coalition of the willing" reaffirmed plans for a multinational force that could help support Ukraine after a ceasefire, although no deployment has been authorized.
Russia responded by reiterating its opposition to any foreign military presence in Ukraine following a peace settlement. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said such forces would be viewed as a security threat and treated as legitimate military targets, according to statements released by the ministry.
The European Union, meanwhile, continued to debate additional sanctions against Russia, though member states had not reached agreement on a new package by Tuesday.
The conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has continued despite multiple rounds of negotiations, has caused widespread casualties and displacement. Previous ceasefire efforts, including a temporary U.S.-brokered pause in May, did not lead to a lasting settlement.
As of Tuesday, there was no indication that Moscow had accepted Trump's latest deadline or agreed to new ceasefire terms. Fighting continued along the front lines while diplomatic contacts among the United States, Ukraine and European allies remained ongoing.
