Trump brings forward deadline for Russia on Ukraine war
US President Donald Trump has set Russia a new “10 or 12-day deadline” over its war in Ukraine as he loses patience with President Vladimir Putin.
Trump on Tuesday (AEST) also contradicted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s vehement denials that Israel was causing hunger in Gaza.
“I don’t know… those children look very hungry… that’s real starvation stuff,” Trump said.
Speaking in Scotland, during a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump said he was disappointed in Putin.
“I’m going to make a new deadline of about … 10 or 12 days from today,” he said.
“There’s no reason in waiting … We just don’t see any progress being made.”
“I’m disappointed in President Putin.”
Earlier this month Trump gave Russia 50 days to make progress towards ending the Ukraine war or face US sanctions.
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“I’m going to reduce that 50 days that I gave him to a lesser number because I think I already know the answer what’s going to happen,” he said.
There was no immediate response from the Kremlin.
But former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev posted a furious reaction on X: “Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with [Trump’s] own country.”
Trump has repeatedly voiced exasperation with Putin for continuing attacks on Ukraine despite US efforts to end the war.
He has threatened sanctions on Russia and buyers of its exports unless there is progress.
Before returning to the White House in January, Trump, who views himself as a peacemaker, had promised to end the 3½-year-old conflict within 24 hours.
‘Real starvation’ in Gaza
Also on Tuesday, Trump said the No.1 priority in the Gaza Strip was getting people fed, because “you have a lot of starving people”.
Trump said the US had provided $US60 million ($92 million) for humanitarian aid and other countries would have to step up.
He said he discussed the issue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday. She told him European countries would step up their assistance substantially.
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Trump said he planned to discuss the humanitarian situation with Starmer.
“We’re giving a lot of money and a lot of food, and other nations are now stepping up,” he said.
“It’s a mess. They have to get food and safety right now.”
Starmer agreed, saying: “It’s a humanitarian crisis, right? It’s an absolute catastrophe …. I think people in Britain are revolted at seeing what they’re seeing on their screen.”
Trump said he would not comment on a push by French President Emmanuel Macron to back Palestinian statehood.
Trump also criticised the Hamas militant group for not agreeing to release more hostages, living and dead, and said he had told Netanyahu that Israel’s approach would likely have to change.
“I told Bibi that you have to maybe do it a different way,” Trump said, echoing similar comments made on Sunday.
Asked if a ceasefire was still possible, Trump said, “Yeah, a ceasefire is possible but you have to get it, you have to end it.”
He did not elaborate on what he meant.
Trump underscored the importance of securing the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, saying the Palestinian group had changed its position and was refusing to release more.
At the weekend, Israel carried out an air drop and announced measures to improve access for aid, including daily humanitarian pauses in three areas of the Gaza Strip and safe corridors for convoys.
United Nations agencies say those moves are not yet sufficient to alleviate famine-like conditions facing the enclave’s residents.
On Monday (local time), the Gaza health ministry said at least 14 people had died in the past 24 hours of starvation and malnutrition, bringing the war’s death toll from hunger to 147. That includes 89 children, and is mostly in just the past few weeks.
Israel cut off all supplies to the Gaza Strip from the start of March, reopening the territory with new restrictions in May.
Israel says it abides by international law but must prevent aid from being diverted by militants. It blames Hamas for the suffering on the Gaza Strip.
“Israel is presented as though we are applying a campaign of starvation in Gaza. What a bald-faced lie. There is no policy of starvation in Gaza, and there is no starvation in Gaza,” Netanyahu said on Sunday.
-with AAP
