Russia tightens its stranglehold on Ukraine battlefield as Trump gifts Putin 50-day window

CNN via Yahoo ^ | July 19th, 2025 | Nick Paton Walsh, Lauren Kent and Svitlana Vlasova, CNN

[Mariner]

US President Donald Trump’s 50-day pause ahead of possible secondary sanctions on Russia gifts the Kremlin a window to exploit the incremental gains of recent weeks, which analysts say increasingly put key Ukrainian strongholds in the east in peril.

Russia is thought to be days or weeks away from surging into a heightened summer offensive, perhaps using the 160,000 troops Ukrainian officials have said are amassing near their front lines. But in the past two weeks, Russia has also made small but vital advances, placing its forces in a better position to cut off Ukrainian troops in three key towns – Pokrovsk, Kostyantynivka and Kupiansk – on the eastern front line.

The Kremlin appeared unperturbed by the new Trump deadline, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov saying on Tuesday: “Fifty days – it used to be 24 hours; it used to be 100 days; we’ve been through all of this.”

Analysts said the new time frame boded well for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s goals. Keir Giles from Chatham House wrote Tuesday that it also provided space for Moscow on the diplomatic stage. “The deadline of 50 days gives Russia plenty of time to concoct its own alternative plan, and once again outmanoeuvre Washington through a diplomatic ploy which Trump may well accept willingly … Trump’s latest extension of his notional deadlines for Putin extends Ukraine’s suffering for the same arbitrary period.”

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TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: zeepershardesthit; zeepershasthesads; zeepersindespair

[Mariner]

Only about 45 days left.

I'm betting there will be no significant secondary sanctions after. The potential for unintended consequences is too high.

[janetjanet998]

Trump isn’t going to put 500% tariffs on India and China

[Mariner]

“Trump isn’t going to put 500% tariffs on India and China”

The terrifying part is there are over 80 members of the US Senate that thinks he should.

[Williams]

Yeah CNN and Yahoo analysis. Less than worthless. Do you really think after Iran, it’s plausible to say Trump doesn’t mean what he says?

Better hope your buddies win the war in the next 45 days.

[Petrosius]

What is terrifying is that there as some who think that Russia should be able to invade another country without any consequences.

[Responsibility2nd]

[Uncle Miltie]

Is there anything in this Stupid War that is not spun sensationalism?

[marcusmaximus]

The clock is ticking…

[Mariner]

Most of the analysis part came from established Ukrainian sources.

[JoSixChip]

What is terrifying is that there as some who think that Russia should be able to invade another country without any consequences.

What's laughable is you zeepers can not, in the slightest way, admit to the real reasons Russia went in in the first place. All this could have easily been avoided if the zman would have ignored biden and GB and allowed the citizens of Ukraine decide their own future.

[Navy Patriot]

Nick Paton Walsh, Lauren Kent and Svitlana Vlasova, CNN

CNN could get only three Urinalists to sign on?

Recruiting must be tough when one runs headlines like: Russia tightens its stranglehold on Ukraine...

Oh Well, ...

[Petrosius]

What's laughable is you zeepers can not, in the slightest way, admit to the real reasons Russia went in in the first place. All this could have easily been avoided if the zman would have ignored biden and GB and allowed the citizens of Ukraine decide their own future.

Still pushing that lie? Yanukovych's successors were chosen by the Ukrainian people.

[alternatives?]

Per CNN. Russia is going to outmaneuver Trump. They never did with Biden.

[tsowellfan]

And no mention of the sales of arms to the Ukraine?
What a crock.
I think the 50 days would be a gift to those trading with Russia, time enough to switch to other trading partners other than Russia.
I don't think just announcing and imposing high tariffs to begin now will gain anything other than anger by possible buyers of what we sell.
I'm not saying my guess if right or wrong, good or bad but 50 days could possibly show Putin's close allies start to dwindle down and / or find alternatives to buying from Russia.
These left wing / pro-democrat news sites would prefer to go bankrupt over giving Trump credit for anything. They probably figure if the communist democrats ever get into control again, the US government would reward them for what they do today.

[TexasFreeper2009]

should have been 5 days

[Vermont Lt]

Asked on what he did the Iran, I would tell Putin to not go too far past day 49.

[Vermont Lt]

Welcome to FRussia. LOL.

[iamgalt]

“as Trump gifts Putin 50-day window“

CNN via Yahoo - trash, as bad as it gets.

[Mariner]

Do you think he would order the US military to directly intervene?

[Uncle Lonny]

“I’m betting there will be no significant secondary sanctions after.”

Yep. Trump talks out his azz a lot. No telling what he will say next. I think that is called “Fourth Dimensional Chess.”