Russia sticking to its war demands amid Trump sanctions threat

The Kremlin is sticking to its war demands, even as President Trump makes new threats of sanctions that would go into effect if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine in less than 50 days.

"Russia is ready to move swiftly. The most important thing for us is to achieve our goals. Our goals are clear, obvious, they have not changed. But the process does not depend on us alone," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said in an interview published by Russian state news agency TASS.

Trump warned on July 14 that Russia had 50 days to agree to a deal, or the president said he was prepared to levy 100 percent economic sanctions targeting nations that do business with Russia.

The threat came on the same day Trump announced a deal with NATO to provide weapons to Ukraine.

The president has in recent weeks expressed increasing frustration with Putin as Moscow continues to fire missiles into Ukraine despite the White House’s push for a ceasefire.

The White House doubled down on its position in a statement responding to Peskov’s recent comments.

“The brutal Russia-Ukraine War was brought on by Joe Biden’s incompetence, and it has gone on for far too long,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement.

“President Trump wants to stop the killing, which is why he is selling American-made weapons to NATO members and threatening Putin with biting tariffs and sanctions if he does not agree to a ceasefire,” Kelly added.

Peskov also said Monday that Putin is planning to travel to Beijing in September and didn't rule out the possibility of a meeting with Trump — should the president decide to join.

The White House has not indicated any plans for Trump to travel to China at that time.

“We are preparing for a trip to Beijing," Peskov said, according to TASS. "It is indeed on the agenda of the head of state. But we have not heard that President Trump is going to Beijing as well."

"If it so happens that he will also be there, it can’t be ruled out that a question will come up about whether it will be reasonable to hold a meeting," Peskov continued.

The Russian president plans to travel to Beijing to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. China is planning a parade on Sept. 3, one day after Trump’s 50-day deadline would be due to expire.