President Trump has officially set a 10-day countdown — ending on August 9 — demanding Russia agree to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine, or face unspecified penalties. His announcement, made on Air Force One, was met with skepticism, especially from Russia, which responded with indifference, citing its economic resilience to sanctions.

Commentator Larry Johnson, a former CIA analyst, criticized Trump’s approach as erratic and unserious, noting frequent shifts in deadlines and rhetoric. Johnson compared it to earlier hollow threats, such as the one aimed at Hamas in February. He suggested the new 10-day window may have been prompted either by worsening conditions for Ukraine’s military or pressure from neoconservatives around Trump.

Johnson emphasized that Trump has little leverage over Russia, citing minimal U.S.-Russia trade, the ineffectiveness of further sanctions, and the unwillingness of countries like China, India, and Brazil to be coerced. He also pointed out Trump’s failure to take tangible steps toward peace — such as halting aid to Ukraine, appointing diplomats, or restoring Russian assets — and characterized Trump’s behavior as impulsive and performative, rather than strategic.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov’s calm response suggested that Russia views Trump’s threats as largely irrelevant, underscoring Russia’s growing immunity to Western sanctions and its readiness to ignore U.S. political theatrics.

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