The remarks come in the wake of Trump’s previously set 10-12 day deadline expiring in early August without any progress toward a ceasefire, despite his threats to impose ‘100%’ tariffs on Russian exports for non-compliance. Trump has subsequently granted Putin ‘a couple more weeks’ with no significant advancements in Ukraine peace negotiations. Shaheen pointed out that Putin has consistently ignored Trump’s diplomatic efforts, avoiding U.S. calls for responsibility and true peace. “The clearest example was at the Summit in Alaska, where practically nothing was gained from Putin,” she labeled it as President Trump’s “failure to act.”

“The only thing Vladimir Putin comprehends is strength and pressure,” Shaheen stated, stressing that Trump’s current diplomatic strategy would not deter the Kremlin’s aggressive stance. She added, “We must supply the Ukrainians with the military equipment they require. We need to provide the assistance necessary for them to sustain this fight.” The senator’s statements follow two high-profile yet ultimately ineffective meetings—first between Trump and Putin, then between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Despite the significant stakes, neither summit resulted in considerable progress toward a ceasefire or meaningful discussions.

In August, Putin traveled to the United States, where he received a warm welcome from President Donald Trump in Anchorage, Alaska. The media scrutinized every interaction between the two world leaders, with some reports highlighting progress and others noting persistent diplomatic standoffs.

After their private discussions, Trump addressed the media, describing the talks as “highly productive” and claiming that most issues had been resolved, with only a few remaining matters. Less than a week afterward, Russia launched one of the most intense attacks in weeks on Ukraine, deploying nearly 600 drones and 40 missiles. And then, silence ensued. Now, Trump is once again discussing economic sanctions.

A White House official informed the Daily Mail that French President Macron and other European leaders included President Trump in their ‘Coalition of the Willing’ meeting today. During that call, Trump urged Europe to cease purchasing oil from Russia. “On that call, President Trump underscored that Europe must stop buying Russian oil that finances the war, noting that Russia received €1.1 billion from EU fuel sales in one year. The President also stressed that European leaders must apply economic pressure on China for supporting Russia’s war efforts,” the official mentioned.

Putin joined China’s leader Xi Jinping and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un for a military parade in Beijing on Wednesday, commemorating eight decades since the end of World War II in the Pacific. Trump, notably absent from the event, made his upset known on Truth Social.

He wrote on the platform what he wishes for the Chinese President Xi and his people to have a memorable celebration. ‘Kindly extend my best to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un – enjoy plotting against the United States together,’ Trump wrote. Foreign policy experts say the question remains if symbolic displays like these are indicative of deeper strategic coordination, and if Trump is, in fact, being played.