Trump says ceasefire deadline depends on Putin

US President Donald Trump said the deadline for the ceasefire he set for Russia — scheduled for today — now depends on his Russian counterpart after assuring that Putin does not need to meet with Zelensky before the meeting.

"We'll see what he has to say. It's up to him. I'm very disappointed," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked if the initial deadline was still in effect.

The deadline given by Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin to suspend the offensive in Ukraine ends today, when the two leaders are scheduled to meet next week, possibly in the United Arab Emirates.

In mid-July, Trump promised "severe tariffs" on Russia and countries that continue to buy Russian oil unless Moscow reached a peace agreement with Ukraine within 50 days. Two weeks later, on July 28, he reduced that deadline to 10 to 12 days.

On Thursday, Washington and Moscow confirmed a meeting between Trump and Putin, to take place next week.

The Kremlin ruled out the possibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy participating in the meeting, something the White House had said Trump was willing to consider.