US President Donald Trump on Monday significantly cut the deadline that Russian President Vladimir Putin had given to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine. Instead of the previously given 50 days, Moscow will now have only 10-12 days. Trump welcomed British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his golf course in Turnberry, Scotland, where he announced his decision in a statement to reporters. “There is no point in waiting,” the president said, adding that he sees no progress in the talks.

The US president reiterated his earlier threat to impose secondary sanctions and tariffs on countries that continue to do business with Russia once the deadline expires.

I don't want to do this to Russia

Trump added.

As is known, the American president had previously given an ultimatum to the Russian leadership on July 14. Trump promised a “major announcement” regarding Russia, and then gave an ultimatum: 50 days for Putin to reach an agreement. “We will impose heavy tariffs if no agreement is reached within fifty days,” Trump said in the Oval Office of the White House, at the same time threatening the introduction of 100 percent secondary tariffs against Russia.

Gaza crisis at the center of the meeting

Trump said the humanitarian crisis in Gaza was “one of the main reasons” for his meeting with Starmer. The president contradicted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s weekend statement that “there is no starvation in Gaza.”

This is real hunger

– said Trump, who announced that the United States would set up “food distribution centers” in Gaza in cooperation with other nations. “We’re setting up centers where people can walk in, without fences,” he explained. Starmer also stressed the gravity of the situation, saying that the British public was “outraged” by the images of starvation in Gaza.

The Epstein case continues to preoccupy Trump

During his international trip, Trump was again forced to answer questions about Jeffrey Epstein. The president denied drawing a woman in a 2003 birthday greeting, which was reported by the Wall Street Journal. “I don’t draw drawings,” Trump said. “Sometimes they say, ‘Would you draw a building?’ And I draw four lines and a little roof, for charity. But I don’t draw women.”

Trump confirmed that he broke up with Epstein years ago over an “inappropriate” incident and has never visited the billionaire’s private island.

Asked about a possible pardon for Epstein's former companion Ghislaine Maxwell, Trump did not rule out the possibility, but added that"nobody has approached me about it."

Deal done

Ahead of the meeting in Scotland, Trump achieved a major trade breakthrough with the European Union, signing a tariff deal with Ursula von der Leyen on export tariffs. Under the agreement, the United States will impose a 15 percent tariff on all European goods, a significant reduction from the previously mentioned 30 percent tariff.

The agreement was hailed as a success by both sides. Donald Trump said the deal would be “great for the auto industry” and would also have an impact on agriculture, while the EC President described the agreement, which came after “tough negotiations,” as a “huge deal.”

However, the agreement has received a mixed reception in Europe, with several leading politicians and business figures describing the deal as unilateral and damaging. Critics say the EU has made too many concessions while the long-term economic effects are questionable.