Ukrainians unnoticed by Trump’s 50-day ultimatum to Putin

Ukrainians are tired, running away from the emotional fee of invasion and the physical fee of sleepless nights due to sirens of air attack, explosions and creaking sounds of attacking drones. “It was a long night,” is a common remark that you will hear in Kiev.

So, US President Donald Trump’s decision to give Russia 50 days to agree to the cessation of fire or to face “very heavy tariffs … by about 100%” did not go well.

One of Ukraine’s most famous politicians, Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko, asked “Why such a delay?” As you talk on German TV. Russian attacks had become “more intense,” he said, and more people could be killed during this 50-day period.

President Volodimir Zelenski spoke with Trump after the president said the “best weapons” would be sent by the United States through NATO partners in Europe and thanked him for “his desire to support Ukraine.” If applied, “secondary tariffs” would strike countries that buy oil exports to Russia.

But Ukrainian MP Kira Rudik says Trump’s message was “Bittersweet” as he gave Putin another 50 days to continue his deadly bombing and maintain his offensive on the front line.

“It is very difficult and very personally for us because we do not know if some of us will survive for these 50 days,” she told the BBC.

More than 230 civilians were killed in Ukraine last month and many more injured, according to the UN Monitors for Human Rights – the largest number in three years, as Russia unleashed a record number of drones and rocket attacks.

Among the weapons sent to Ukraine are Patriot’s air defense batteries to help protect cities from attack.

“(There) there was no fact to prove that Russia wants to stop the war. Ukraine is ready for unconditional cessation of fire, we did everything from the book,” Rudik added.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday that Trump’s message was “very serious” and warned that such solutions had been considered by Kiev “not as a signal of peace, but as a signal for the continuation of the war.”

There was little faith in Trump’s promises on the streets of Kyiv.

Residents Julia and Alice said they were both worried about his relationship with the Kremlin.

“I don’t believe this is a real help for Ukraine … It’s all about his ego,” Julia told the BBC. “I suppose these four years (the Presidency of Trump) will be very difficult for Ukraine.”

“Everything that has happened in the last six months has just proven that nothing will change, though Trump does or doesn’t say,” Alice added.

Nina, who also lives in Kiev, was more optimistic that additional weapons sent by the US and paid by NATO member states in Europe could “accelerate the end of the war.”

This could have ended earlier if Russia had not been assisted by allies such as North Korea and China, she said.

Artem, whose father served in the Ukrainian army, “hoped for the best.”

“People say a lot, let’s see how it goes. I hope everything will be as we want. And we want peace to end the war in Ukraine and all the boys will come back alive,” he said.

Walking the wall surrounding St. Michael’s monastery in Kiev, pictures of the fallen look at you – some were taken before the war, including men and women posing with family and pets.

While Trump talks about the imposition of new tariffs on Russia, the war continues – with these images a reminder of soldiers who will never go home.