• Russia dismisses US sanctions as "old news."
• Trump sets 50-day deadline for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.
• Kremlin insists dialogue with the US will continue despite tensions.

Russia has rebuffed the threat of new US sanctions, claiming they have “long ceased to be news” for the nation, and stated, "We do not accept threats," according to Indiatimes. This response was triggered after US President Donald Trump issued a serious ultimatum urging Russia to secure a peace deal with Ukraine within 50 days, backed by a military aid plan for Kyiv supported by NATO allies.

The Kremlin, however, believes that despite Trump's tougher stance, “this is not what it means” in terms of ending US-Russia negotiations aimed at improving bilateral ties, according to trtglobal and Channel News Asia. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated that discussions related to Ukraine's peace settlement and overall bilateral relations are separate issues that require continued dialogue.

Previously, Russia and Ukraine had participated in two rounds of peace talks in Türkiye, resulting in agreements on prisoner exchanges. However, as of now, no date has been set for the next round of discussions, and both sides remain significantly apart on ceasefire terms, as reported by trtglobal and Channel News Asia.

Trump’s ultimatum has intensified pressure on Russia as it enters its fourth year of conflict with Ukraine, with no resolution in sight, according to Indiatimes. The ongoing deadlock necessitates a consistent diplomatic approach to attempt any breakthrough.