Putin Considers Temporary Suspension of Air Strikes on Ukraine Amid Pressure from Trump Administration

Published: 06th August 2025.The English Chronicle Desk

In a notable shift in Russia’s war strategy, President Vladimir Putin is reportedly weighing a temporary suspension of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine in a calculated move to placate the Trump administration and forestall the imposition of fresh US-led sanctions. The proposal, if enacted, would mark a significant yet cautious overture by Moscow toward de-escalation, amid growing global fatigue over the protracted conflict and a mounting toll on regional stability and economic security.

The development comes following a high-level meeting between President Putin and Steve Witkoff, the special envoy of US President Donald Trump, held in the Kremlin on Wednesday. Witkoff, a New York real estate magnate turned diplomatic emissary, landed in Moscow earlier the same day, signaling renewed backchannel efforts by Washington to push for a political resolution to the war. The talks between the Russian leadership and the American envoy reportedly centred on a phased pathway to peace, beginning with what has been described as an “air truce” — a mutual cessation of aerial assaults conditional on reciprocal commitment from Ukraine.

While President Putin has not endorsed a full ceasefire, the prospect of suspending aerial strikes appears designed to mollify the United States at a moment of heightened diplomatic pressure. President Trump, who has been vocal about Russia’s military aggression and its impact on global energy stability, has threatened to impose sweeping tariffs not only on Russian fossil fuel exports but also on nations that continue to facilitate Moscow’s energy trade, including India and China. The Trump administration’s rhetoric has sharpened in recent weeks, with the President reducing an initial 50-day warning period to just 25 days and hinting at a possible announcement of punitive measures by Friday. Speaking to reporters, Trump left little room for doubt about his intentions. “I never said a specific percentage, but we’ll be doing quite a bit of that. We’ll see what happens over the next fairly short period of time,” he said, referring to the proposed tariffs. The President further confirmed that discussions with Russian officials were imminent, suggesting a verdict would follow shortly thereafter.

The timing of this diplomatic overture from Moscow coincides with a rising sense of urgency within the Kremlin, as the Russian economy continues to reel under existing sanctions and dwindling international partnerships. Reports suggest that Russian officials view the meeting with Witkoff as a crucial opportunity to restart direct communication channels with the United States and avert a potentially devastating new round of economic restrictions. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the gravity of the talks but refrained from commenting on them in advance, citing their sensitivity.

Amid these diplomatic manoeuvres, Ukraine remains under daily threat. Just hours before the Putin-Witkoff meeting, Russian forces reportedly launched a strike on a key gas facility in Ukraine’s Odesa region, near the Romanian border. President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the attack targeted critical energy infrastructure in the village of Novosilske, home to the Orlovka interconnector — a strategic site for winter gas supplies received via the Transbalkan route. Zelensky condemned the strike as a “deliberate and cynical blow” to Ukraine’s preparations for the heating season.

Despite these ongoing assaults, Zelensky remains in active dialogue with the Trump administration. On Tuesday, he held what he termed a “productive” phone call with President Trump, during which the two leaders discussed a multibillion-dollar European initiative to procure American-made air defence systems for Ukraine. The deal, backed by contributions from the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, amounts to over $1 billion in fresh military assistance aimed at reinforcing Kyiv’s defensive capabilities.

The proposed “air truce” — though still in the realm of diplomatic speculation — was reportedly first broached in a conversation between Putin and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko last week. Lukashenko, a close Kremlin ally, later told reporters that the idea was well received in Moscow, but stressed that Ukraine’s agreement would be essential to make it work. The concept gained further traction following meetings between US General Keith Kellogg, acting as a peace envoy, and Lukashenko. General Kellogg is now expected to travel to Kyiv to discuss the proposal with President Zelensky and gauge Ukraine’s willingness to consider such a truce.

While the situation remains fluid, the emergence of this diplomatic effort suggests a potentially significant turning point in the conflict, shaped by an evolving balance of international pressure, economic vulnerabilities, and strategic recalculations on both sides. Whether this will lead to substantive de-escalation or merely another fleeting pause in a long and bloody war remains to be seen. Yet, even a temporary cessation of air attacks, if honoured by both parties, could offer much-needed respite to war-weary civilians and open a narrow window for renewed peace negotiations.

For now, the world watches closely as diplomatic overtures intersect with battlefield realities, and the fragile threads of diplomacy are once again tested in one of the most intractable conflicts of the 21st century.