Russia defies Trump’s ultimatum with bombardment in Ukraine.

400 Russian drones strike Ukrainian cities.

Trump threatens tariffs if there’s no peace deal in Ukraine.

As President Donald Trump set a 50-day ultimatum for Russia to negotiate peace under the threat of 100% tariffs, the Kremlin demonstrated its defiance with a devastating overnight assault.

Between July 15 and 16, Russian forces bombarded four Ukrainian cities with 400 Shahed drones, decoys, and a ballistic missile, injuring at least 15 people and damaging critical infrastructure, especially in the energy sector.

The targeted cities included Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city in the northeast; Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown in central Ukraine; Vinnytsia in the west; and Odesa in the south.

According to Ukraine’s air force, it was one of the largest coordinated drone attacks to date.

Russia defies Trump’s ultimatum with bombardment in Ukraine

New Russian #airstrike on Ukraine

In total, Russia launched around 400 drones Tuesday night, including Shaheds and decoys, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.

Air defenses shot down 198 Shaheds, but 57 attack drones and a missile struck 12 locations, including… pic.twitter.com/YRXEKvYRTN

— DW Español (@dw_espanol) July 16, 2025

“Russia is not changing its strategy,” Zelensky declared.

“To effectively counter this terror, we need a systemic reinforcement of our defenses—more air defense, more interceptors, and more resolve so that Russia feels our response.”

Russia’s bombing escalated diplomatic tensions just as the United States threatened harsh sanctions on the Kremlin if it refused to agree to a peace deal by September 2.

Yet with these attacks, Moscow made clear it has no plans to yield under pressure.

Trump Takes Harder Line but Sets Controversial Deadline

REPORTER: You’ve given Russia 50 days. What happens now? @POTUS: «At the end of 50 days, if we don’t have a deal, it’s going to be too bad… the tariffs are going to go on and other sanctions go on.» pic.twitter.com/RUKnoENsKF

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 15, 2025

President Trump, who returned to the White House nearly six months ago, adopted his toughest stance yet toward Vladimir Putin, promising a major military aid package for Ukraine.

The plan includes Patriot air defense systems, considered vital for intercepting Russian missiles and drones.

“If there’s no peace deal in 50 days, Russia will be hit with 100% tariffs,” Trump warned last week.

The message was intended as a clear ultimatum, but it also sparked criticism among U.S. lawmakers and European allies. Many fear that setting such a specific deadline could give Putin time to gain further ground on the battlefield before any possible deal.

The U.S. government confirmed that part of this new shipment of weaponry would be funded by European partners. While European leaders welcomed Trump’s decision to keep supporting Ukraine, some expressed dissatisfaction over the distribution of costs.

“We welcome President Trump’s announcement to send more weapons to Ukraine, though we’d like to see the United States share the burden. If we’re paying for these weapons, it’s our support,” said Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief.

No Progress in Peace Negotiations

Journalist: You’ve given Russia 50 days. What happens now?

President Trump: At the end of 50 days, if we don’t reach an agreement, it’s going to be very bad for them… the tariffs will hit, and other sanctions will come. https://t.co/K7phcsF6Bf

— USA en Español (@USAenEspanol) July 16, 2025

Despite calls for diplomacy, there is currently no public date for a third round of direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. The previous two rounds achieved little beyond prisoner exchanges.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a Washington-based think tank, noted this week that Putin still believes in his “theory of victory”:

Achieving his military objectives through gradual, prolonged advances while exhausting Western support for Kyiv.

“Putin maintains a theory of victory that posits Russia can achieve its war goals by continuing incremental advances on the battlefield indefinitely and outlasting Western support for Ukraine,” the ISW stated.

Ukraine Demands Reinforcements

Russia Defies Trump’s Ultimatum with Bombardment in Ukraine – Photo: ShutterStock.

Since the full-scale invasion in 2022, the war has claimed the lives of more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to the United Nations, and has left tens of thousands of soldiers dead along a front line stretching over a thousand kilometers.

Russian bombardments remain a tactic aimed at breaking Ukrainian morale and crippling its infrastructure, forcing the country to divert resources to civil defense.

Meanwhile, Ukraine insists that only significant reinforcement of its air defenses can protect its cities and population from constant attacks.

Zelensky and other senior officials have stepped up calls for interceptors, radars, and ammunition, fully aware that Russia’s offensive shows no sign of slowing.

Trump’s Tariffs, Weapons, and a Distant Peace

Russia Defies Trump’s Ultimatum with Bombardment in Ukraine – Photo: ShutterStock.

Trump’s ultimatum, with its promise of harsh trade sanctions, marks a shift in his relationship with Putin.

During his first term, Trump avoided direct confrontations with Moscow. Now, pressured by the escalating conflict and allied expectations, he is offering weapons to Ukraine but demanding that Europeans finance much of the package.

The problem is that the imposed 50-day deadline guarantees no concrete outcome.

Experts warn that the lack of progress in peace negotiations—and the brutality of nightly bombardments—reinforce the perception that the war is far from over.