Zelensky Official Hails Trump's Move: 'When America is Serious, Russia Retreats'

Ukrainian Official Praises Trump’s Approach to Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has received strong support from his top advisor, Andriy Yermak, who praised former U.S. President Donald Trump for taking a firm stance against Russian aggression. Yermak, who serves as the head of the Ukrainian presidential office and is often compared to the White House chief of staff, believes that Trump's actions demonstrate Washington's commitment to ending the war in Ukraine.

Yermak stated that when the U.S. takes a strong position, other nations follow suit. He emphasized that this approach has worked before and is starting to show results again. "When America is serious, Russia backs down," he said. This sentiment reflects the growing hope among Ukrainian officials that a decisive move by the United States could shift the balance of power in the conflict.

Trump’s Ultimatum to Russia

During a press briefing on Air Force One, Trump announced that Russia now has just 10 days—until August 8—to avoid economic sanctions aimed at halting the flow of funds that support Moscow’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Originally, Trump had given Russia 50 days from July 14 to stop its military operations. However, the Kremlin has shown no sign of compliance, continuing to launch deadly bombings and drone strikes on civilian areas.

If Russia fails to act, Trump has pledged to impose 100% tariffs on any country that purchases Russian oil, either directly or indirectly. This measure would target the main source of revenue for Moscow’s war machine, potentially crippling its ability to sustain the conflict.

Moscow’s Attempts at Diplomacy

Despite Trump’s ultimatum, Moscow has occasionally expressed interest in a negotiated settlement. Most recently, the Russian government held low-level talks with Ukrainian officials in Turkey last week. However, these discussions focused primarily on prisoner exchanges and did not address the possibility of a ceasefire.

Yermak highlighted that the meetings were not productive, as Russian representatives refused to engage in broader peace talks. He emphasized the need for action, stating, “I believe in America. I believe in President Trump.” Yermak also pointed out that Ukraine has never asked the U.S. to become directly involved in the conflict, but rather to support diplomatic efforts through economic pressure.

Russian Response to Sanctions

In response to Trump’s threats, the Russian government has attempted to downplay the potential impact of sanctions. On Monday, Dmitry Medvedev, a high-ranking member of the Russian Security Council, warned that Trump’s actions risked a U.S.-Russia war. He claimed that Russia is not like Israel or Iran and cannot be influenced by American strength.

Medvedev added that each new ultimatum is a step toward war, though he specifically mentioned a conflict between the U.S. and Russia, not Ukraine. He even referenced former President Joe Biden, suggesting that Trump should avoid following a similar path.

Yermak dismissed Medvedev’s comments as foolish, suggesting that the Russian official may have been inebriated. He argued that Trump would not tolerate such harsh rhetoric directed at the U.S. president.

The Impact of Sanctions

Yermak believes that implementing the proposed sanctions will challenge the Russian narrative that nothing will change. He compared the situation to the debate over whether then-President Biden should send Patriot air-defense systems to Ukraine. When the systems were eventually delivered, they proved effective in countering Russian missile attacks.

Yermak stressed that it is important to reject Russian propaganda and recognize the effectiveness of Western support. He also suggested that the sanctions could embolden Russian citizens who are already struggling financially, encouraging them to demand an end to the war.

Economic Pressure and Public Sentiment

According to Yermak, the combination of economic pressure and military losses on the front lines could lead to increased public dissent in Russia. He noted that it is difficult to control all social media activity, and the sanctions could provide new information to Russian citizens.

“This will create a very difficult situation in the Russian economy,” Yermak said. He believes that as people face financial hardship, they will begin to question Putin’s decision to start the war and why he refuses to bring it to an end.