Russian President Vladimir Putin is openly defying U.S. President Donald Trump’s demand for a ceasefire in Ukraine — and instead, is preparing to escalate the war. According to sources close to the Kremlin, Putin remains focused on seizing four key Ukrainian regions and is showing no signs of backing down.
Trump had issued an ultimatum: agree to a ceasefire by Friday or face sweeping new penalties, including 100% tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, such as China and India. But the Kremlin isn’t moving — a snub that marks a rare and embarrassing public dismissal of a U.S. president’s demand in the middle of a major international conflict.
“He simply has a top priority – Putin cannot afford to end the war just because Trump wants it,” one Russian source told Reuters.
The public rejection is a striking blow for Trump, who has often touted his influence over foreign leaders. Now, as Putin digs in, that image is taking a hit — particularly as Trump’s deadline approaches with no sign of compliance from Moscow.
Putin’s goal remains the same: full control of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson — four regions Russia claims as its own. “If Putin were able to fully occupy those four regions which he has claimed for Russia he could claim that his war in Ukraine had reached his objectives,” said James Rodgers, author of The Return of Russia.
Three rounds of peace talks since May have produced little. One source said they were designed more to signal cooperation to the West — and to Trump — than to produce results. The discussions, so far, have been limited mostly to humanitarian matters.
Moscow says it’s willing to negotiate a lasting peace, but its terms — a full Ukrainian withdrawal from the four regions, neutrality, and military restrictions — are flatly rejected by Kyiv. Despite this, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Moscow this week, with time running out.
For Trump, the situation is politically and diplomatically uncomfortable. Once praised for his rapport with Putin, he now finds himself ignored by the very leader he claimed to understand best.
“President Trump wants to stop the killing,” said White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly, defending the administration’s pressure campaign. Trump has also stepped up weapons support to NATO and warned of “biting” economic retaliation if Russia refuses to halt its attacks.
But the Kremlin’s silence is telling. Despite Trump’s threats, there has been no official response from Moscow. Sources say Kremlin insiders doubt Trump will follow through. “He’s made threats before,” one said, “and then not acted.”
Earlier this year, Trump reportedly offered a major deal: end the war in exchange for full sanctions relief and U.S. recognition of Russia’s hold on Crimea and occupied territories. One Russian source called it a “fantastic chance,” but said Putin wasn’t ready to accept. “Stopping a war is much more difficult than starting it,” the source said.
On the ground, Russian forces have been making some of their biggest advances of 2025. According to Finland’s Black Bird Group, Moscow took 502 square kilometers in July. Russia now controls roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory.
Kremlin advisors have reportedly told Putin that Ukraine’s frontlines could collapse within months. “The Ukrainian front will collapse,” one source said.
Still, Western analysts say Russia’s overall gains are limited — just 5,000 square kilometers since 2024, less than 1% of Ukraine. And the cost has been high, with brutal fighting and heavy casualties.
Even if Trump follows through on sanctions, Russian officials aren’t overly concerned. One insider called the threat “painful and unpleasant,” but not devastating. “There’s not much more that they can do to us,” another said.
Russian officials also doubt that China — a key oil customer — would bow to Trump’s pressure. One warned the U.S. action could backfire, driving global oil prices even higher.
Despite years of sanctions, Russia has continued funding its war effort. Weapons production has surged with help from North Korea and Chinese imports of dual-use technology. The Kremlin maintains that it has developed “immunity” to Western pressure.
Trump himself admitted Russia has been effective at dodging restrictions. “They’re wily characters and they’re pretty good at avoiding sanctions,” he told reporters over the weekend. “So we’ll see what happens.”
