Kremlin Says It ‘Noted' Trump's Statement on Shorter Deadline for a Ceasefire in Ukraine
Trump set a new deadline on Monday of 10 or 12 days for Russia to make progress toward ending the war in Ukraine or face consequences, underscoring frustration with President Vladimir Putin over the 3-1/2-year-old conflict.
Asked about Trump's statement on Tuesday during a conference call with reporters, the Kremlin kept its remarks short.
"We have taken note of President Trump's statement yesterday. The special military operation continues," said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, employing the term that Moscow uses for its war effort in Ukraine.
"We remain committed to a peace process to resolve the conflict around Ukraine and to ensure our interests in the course of this settlement."
Trump threatened on July 14 to impose new sanctions on Russia and buyers of its exports within 50 days, a deadline which would have expired in early September.
But on Monday, during a visit to Britain, he shortened that deadline and said: "There's no reason in waiting... We just don't see any progress being made."
Trump, who has held half a dozen calls with the Kremlin leader since returning to the White House in January, also said he was "not so interested in talking any more".
Peskov declined to comment on that remark.
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Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
A stain on the face of humanity
The US is finally admitting that Gazans are starving. In the space of less than 24 hours, President Donald Trump shifted positions, from saying that he was not sure people are starving in Gaza to stating that there is 'real starvation' in the Israeli-blockaded enclave. In a meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland on Monday, Trump said that the US would set up 'food centers' in Gaza as he acknowledged Israel 'has a lot of responsibility' for limiting aid to the Strip. His admission puts him at odds with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who on Sunday denied that people are starving in Gaza. In March, Israel pulled out of a ceasefire deal with Hamas, negotiated through the US, and imposed a full blockade on more than 2 million Gazans. It stopped all aid trucks from entering the Strip, thereby denying civilians access to essential supplies such as food, baby formula, medicine, fuel and water. Israel has used starvation as a weapon from Day 1 of its onslaught on Gaza. Its officials are on record admitting and supporting the blockade. Far-right Cabinet ministers have objected to any proposal that would reopen the border crossings to allow hundreds of aid trucks to enter the beleaguered enclave. On the few occasions that aid trucks have been admitted, Israel attacked and killed aid workers, including foreign nationals. It accused Hamas of stealing the aid, but the US Agency for International Development debunked that claim. Israel banned the leading UN agency, UNRWA, which is responsible for delivering food and medicine to the Palestinians. It bombed food warehouses in Gaza and created a human-made humanitarian catastrophe that — so far — has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of children and infants from acute malnutrition. And when pressure was put on Israel and the US to offer an alternative to the UN and other organizations, Netanyahu created the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US-Israeli entity manned by armed contractors and protected by the Israeli army, which took responsibility for feeding more than 2 million souls. The outcome is tragic and, to say the least, criminal. So far, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been gunned down by Israel and the armed contractors as they huddled like animals to receive meals. But even then, Israel poured cement into water wells, denied hospitals access to fuel and medication, and continued to strike safe zones where hapless civilians were ordered to move by the Israeli army for their safety. The irony is that, even as Israel knowingly and deliberately pushed the Strip into starvation, Western governments, including the US, did nothing to stop it. It was only when the harrowing images of emaciated babies went viral on social media that real pressure was put on Israel. Netanyahu last week announced a humanitarian pause, allowing aid trucks into the Strip and facilitating airdrops. But while hundreds of trucks traveled from Egypt into an Israeli-controlled border point, only 100 were allowed in. Aid agencies estimate that between 500 and 700 trucks are needed daily to contain the humanitarian crisis. Netanyahu must be ordered to end the humanitarian crisis and stop weaponizing food and medicine. Osama Al-Sharif The so-called humanitarian pause is a lie. Israel continues to bomb Gaza, mainly killing civilians, while the few functioning hospitals lack fuel, food, water and medication. Now, Trump wants to establish food centers in Gaza. Israel will find ways to sabotage that effort. What Trump fails or refuses to say is that Israel must open the border crossings to let aid trucks in without conditions. Netanyahu must be ordered to end the humanitarian crisis and stop weaponizing food and medicine. Israel lost all sympathy for its war as it waged an open genocide on Gaza. The objective was never to defeat Hamas but to destroy Gaza and displace its people. US, Egyptian, Qatari and even Israeli negotiators know that Hamas was ready to deliver the hostages if Israel would commit to ending the war. However, Netanyahu and his far-right government partners have other ideas. They openly talk about reoccupying and colonizing Gaza. They have no sympathy for the high civilian toll and push for forcing Gazans to leave at any price. Israel's image in the West has been tarnished and no one believes it can ever be repaired. If and when the war stops and independent journalists and investigators enter the Strip, the complete picture of the horrors Israel has created there will become clear. Even Israeli reports now believe the final death toll in Gaza will be double or triple the current figures. Despite all the war crimes that Israel has committed in Gaza, the Palestinians are not leaving. Israel has had to abandon its grotesque proposal to set up a so-called humanitarian city on the remains of Rafah — a concentration camp no different to the ones the Nazis built for European Jews ahead of their 'final solution.' The images of starving Palestinian children are a stain on the face of humanity, but they will especially haunt Israelis and those who enabled this genocide. It could be brought to an end today. Trump must tell Israel to do so. Trump's admission that Gazans are starving and that the war must end requires bold action. Such action must be done in collaboration with Western countries that have leverage remaining over Israel. Ending the humanitarian crisis is a priority. This collective message must be sent to Netanyahu as soon as possible. Ending the blockade is the first step. This must be followed by a plan to end the war, retrieve the hostages and end Hamas' control of the Strip. Israel must pull out and allow an interim authority to take over, as was previously suggested. Gazans need protection and Israel needs assurances that Oct. 7 will never happen again. This is a moment where Hamas must put the safety and interests of the Palestinian people, who have paid a dear price over the past 22 months, ahead of its own. But even then, that is not enough. The Palestinian question must be addressed and a resolution to decades of war and death must be found. The core of instability in the region has always been linked to Israel's denial of Palestinian self-determination and rejection of the two-state solution. The need for international momentum to relaunch a genuine peace process has never been more urgent. Trump is in a position to change the current trajectory not only in Gaza, but in Israel and the West Bank as well. The Palestinian issue is, at its heart, not humanitarian but political and the time has come to address it.
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
‘It won't stop our efforts': Palestinian official on US sanctions, Witkoff's Gaza visit
On tonight's W News with Leigh-Ann Gerrans, the Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs reacts to new sanctions imposed by the US on Palestinian Authority officials, and she shares her thoughts on US Envoy Steve Witkoff's visit to Gaza. Plus, as US President Donald Trump's fresh tariffs kick in, we ask an economist how it will affect consumers and global relationships.
Al Arabiya
2 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Exclusive Palestinian official: Sanctions won't stop diplomacy, US inaction enabling Gaza war
Palestinian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Varsen Aghabekian said that new US sanctions imposed on Palestinian Authorit y officials were 'not a shock' and would not derail the PA's diplomatic efforts ahead of a key international conference in September. 'It didn't come as a shock because sanctions by the US are not new,' Aghabekian told Al Arabiya English in an exclusive interview. The comments came as US State Department officials announced additional restrictions targeting PA figures, citing governance concerns. The move was criticized by Palestinian officials who say the measures are politically motivated. She said the US is 'more vocal about it' due to the upcoming 80th UN General Assembly in September where many countries, including France and Canada, have pledged to recognize a Palestinian state. 'I don't think it will stop our efforts toward the September conference,' she added. Aghabekian also voiced strong criticism of the ongoing war on Gaza and the lack of decisive US action to stop it. 'We should always stay optimistic. My utmost priority is to save lives. This war is stoppable. If the US wants to stop a war, it can stop it,' she said. When asked why the US hasn't acted to bring an end to the war, Aghabekian replied: 'Because that's what Netanyahu wants. He wants to continue the war for personal reasons.' The minister's comments follow a visit by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to a US-backed humanitarian aid site in Gaza operated by the Global Humanitarian Foundation. Aghabekian questioned the timing of the visit and its necessity, given the widely documented destruction. 'It's questionable why the visit is taking place. What is happening in Gaza is crystal clear – mass destruction, starving people, famine. It doesn't need any confirmation,' she said. 'I hope that he takes back the real picture because we are confident he will see the destruction and the famine.' According to UN figures, nearly 1,400 Palestinians have been killed near aid distribution points in Gaza. While Israeli officials blame Hamas, Aghabekian dismissed that narrative. 'What we hear and see is the deaths – 1,300 killed queuing for food. The pictures and reports from international and Israeli organizations say what is happening is genocide. The situation is clear.' Aghabekian also rejected recent comments by US President Donald Trump that countries recognizing a Palestinian state are 'rewarding Hamas.' 'No, they are not rewarding Hamas. They are in line with international law,' she said, referring to recognition moves by Canada, the UK, and France. She reiterated the Palestinian Authority's stance that it is not engaged in direct negotiations with Hamas. 'We are not in direct talks with Hamas,' she said. 'As soon as possible, the hostages should be released and the war should stop.' On the broader question of international law, Aghabekian said the rules are clear but remain unenforced. 'International law is very clear about what is happening. But we are yet to see the international law take effect. The meeting in NYC is a good platform to get started,' she told Al Arabiya English. Asked whether a two-state solution is still realistic, she warned that no alternative path will bring lasting peace. 'Any other solution will not grant peace and security, not for Palestine, not for Israel, and not for the region.' Finally, when asked what message she would send directly to President Trump, Aghabekian said: 'The rights of the Palestinians have been violated for too long. Trump wants to forge peace in the area. The only way to achieve that is to follow international law.'
