Putin is hurrying to meet Trump's 50-day deadline.

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a clear ultimatum: if Moscow does not stop the war in Ukraine within 50 days, the U.S. will impose severe secondary sanctions. Despite this warning, the Kremlin has intensified its offensive in Donetsk, Kharkiv, and along the Dnipro River. Trump also suggested that sanctions could be implemented before the seven-week deadline, responding to criticism from analysts and Ukrainian activists who called the time frame a “window of opportunity” for Putin.

“Putin is trying to seize as much territory as possible before the deadline,” said Yuriy Boychenko, CEO of Hope for Ukraine. He noted recent Russian attempts to occupy parts of Sumy, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.

Washington has reiterated that if Russia fails to comply by September 2, new sanctions will target Russian oil exports to India and China—revenues that are vital to funding the war. The Institute for the Study of War reports that Russian forces have likely captured new territory in Donetsk and made gains near Kupiansk, aiming to encircle Ukrainian positions.

Despite U.S. pledges to supply additional weapons, including Patriot missile systems, Russia continues its heavy bombardment of Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones. Peace efforts, including a potential summit between Presidents Zelenskyy and Putin proposed for late August, have stalled.

“Putin was handed 50 days to kill. And he’s using every one of them,” Boychenko said. His view is echoed by Western experts, who argue that only strong pressure will force the Kremlin to end its aggression.

Prospects for Russia honoring Trump’s ultimatum have dimmed further following the latest round of peace talks in Istanbul on July 23. During those talks, Ukraine proposed a direct meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin.

However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov cast doubt on the likelihood of such a meeting by the end of August, saying it would require prior agreement on all terms of settlement. The Kremlin’s stance suggests no deal will be reached before Trump’s deadline expires.

Moscow has warned that the war will continue unless Ukraine meets its maximum demands

Russia claims it seeks a “diplomatic and political” resolution to its war in Ukraine, but military operations will continue until its objectives are achieved, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on July 27.

Speaking to the Russian state-run news agency TASS, Peskov stated that “the goals of the operation must be fulfilled before the principles of future relations with Ukraine can be determined.”

Moscow continues to insist on the same sweeping demands it outlined at the outset of its full-scale invasion in 2022. These include a ban on Ukraine joining NATO, large-scale demilitarization, and legal guarantees for the Russian language, culture, and Moscow-affiliated religious institutions within Ukraine.

The Kremlin also demands constitutional changes that would enshrine Russia’s illegal claims over Crimea and four additional Ukrainian oblasts it has attempted to annex since 2022.

While Peskov claimed Russia would “prefer” to settle the conflict through negotiations, he asserted that military action remains necessary because “the opposing side rejected the path of dialogue.”

Ukraine has repeatedly voiced support for peace talks but refuses to accept Russia’s maximalist demands, which Kyiv views as calls for surrender. Ukrainian leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelensky, have consistently stated that any peace agreement must begin with an unconditional ceasefire and cannot involve ceding territory or undermining Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Peskov’s remarks followed the third round of peace negotiations between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Istanbul on July 23. During the talks, Ukrainian officials again called for an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian agreements.

Kyiv also proposed a summit between President Zelensky and Russian leader Vladimir Putin before the end of August. However, the Russian side rejected the proposal, as it has in previous rounds.

Moscow’s delegation, led by presidential aide Vladimir Medinsky, instead proposed forming three working groups to address political, military, and humanitarian issues. Russian negotiators also offered temporary ceasefires to recover wounded soldiers and repatriate the dead. They claimed Russia would hand over the remains of 3,000 Ukrainian servicemen via the Red Cross.

Russians struck a bus carrying civilians in Sumy Oblast

Russian troops have attacked a bus carrying civilians in Sumy Oblast, injuring multiple passengers, according to preliminary reports.

The shelling took place in the area of the Yunakivka hromada, an administrative region comprising several villages and towns. Authorities confirmed that there are casualties, and the injured are currently receiving medical assistance.

Emergency services were promptly dispatched to the scene and are working to manage the consequences of the strike.

The Sumy Oblast Military Administration, led by Oleh Hryhorov, is continuing to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Ukraine imposed sanctions on nearly 100 entities related tothe Russian defense industry

President Volodymyr Zelensky has enacted a sweeping new wave of sanctions targeting dozens of individuals and companies tied to Russia's defense sector. The move, announced on July 27, is aimed at deepening Ukraine’s coordination with the European Union's punitive measures and increasing economic pressure on Moscow.

The latest sanctions list includes 45 Russian nationals and 50 companies directly or indirectly involved in Russia’s military-industrial complex. According to presidential decrees, the sanctions will freeze all assets, suspend property rights, restrict trade operations, halt transportation and transit through Ukraine, and revoke state honors.

Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine’s sanctions are now fully synchronized with the EU’s measures.

“As of now, all 18 sanctions packages are fully aligned and in effect in Ukraine,” the president noted.

He added that the EU's 18th sanctions package, adopted on July 18, has extended restrictions to entities from Russia, China, Iran, and other countries — including those linked to Russia’s so-called "shadow tanker fleet" used to bypass oil export bans.

In a second sanctions move, Ukraine also targeted over 90 companies involved in the extraction of rare-earth and critical metals — essential for the production of electronics, drone components, guidance systems, and engines used in warfare. These firms, many of which play a key role in Russia’s military production chain, are now subject to the same set of severe restrictions.

Zelensky stressed that these sanctions are not just symbolic but are beginning to deliver real consequences for Russia.

“The sanctions are being felt — not only in the Russian federal budget, but also across its regions and critical sectors of the economy,” he said. “Maximum sanctions pressure is the most effective argument to force Russia to end this war.”

The European Union’s 18th package of sanctions, described by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas as “one of its strongest to date,” targets Russian oil revenues, banking channels, and sensitive technology imports. It also includes measures against Russia’s liquefied natural gas exports, sanctions on Rosneft’s Indian refinery partners, and penalties for those involved in the forced re-education of Ukrainian children.