In declaring a sharply reduced deadline for a Ukraine ceasefire, US President Donald Trump has added urgency ~ and confusion ~ to an already volatile geopolitical situation. The move, cutting down his earlier 50-day ultimatum to just “10 or 12 days,” underscores a familiar Trumpian pattern: bold rhetoric, high stakes, and the calculated use of unpredictability. Yet, behind the dramatic flair lies a deeper tension between political theatre and diplomatic reality. The war in Ukraine, now in its fourth year after Russia’s full-scale invasion, has reached a brutal and stagnant phase. Ukrainian cities continue to face missile and drone strikes, while the eastern front grinds on. In this context, Mr Trump’s ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin may appear decisive, but it does not address the underlying complexity. Ceasefires are not compelled by deadlines alone; they require mutual trust, enforceable guarantees, and conditions that both parties can live with. None of that exists today. Military conflicts shaped by entrenched territorial, political,........

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