From: Transform Ukraine By Douglas Landro / July 30, 2025
As Moscow dismisses the 10-day deadline and continues systematic deportation of Ukrainian children, deadly strikes kill 23 civilians while Ukraine faces military training losses and diplomatic pressure over anti-corruption reforms
Summary of the Day – July 29, 2025
The Kremlin delivered its most defiant response yet to American pressure on July 29, with officials categorically rejecting President Trump’s compressed 10-day deadline while reaffirming Russia’s commitment to achieving all its war objectives. The stark dismissal came as Russian forces demonstrated their contempt for peace overtures through devastating attacks that killed 23 civilians across Ukraine, including a prison strike that left 16 inmates dead and a missile attack on a Ukrainian military training facility that killed 3 soldiers and wounded 18. Against this backdrop of escalating brutality, Ukrainian intelligence revealed the systematic nature of Russia’s colonial project, with thousands of deported Ukrainian children being mobilized into Russian military formations, while Trump announced Ukrainian refugees could remain in the United States until the war ends and European officials warned of frozen aid unless anti-corruption reforms are implemented.
Ukrainian paramedics treat civilians injured after a Russian air strike on a house in Kostiantynivka, Donetsk Oblast. (Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Moscow’s Unequivocal “No”: Kremlin Rejects Trump’s Ultimatum
Russian officials delivered their most categorical rejection yet of American diplomatic pressure, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissing Trump’s 10-day deadline while affirming Russia’s determination to continue its “special military operation” until achieving all objectives. The response revealed Moscow’s fundamental miscalculation of Trump’s evolving position and growing impatience with Russian intransigence.
“We have taken note of President Trump’s statement yesterday. The SVO (special military operation) continues,” Peskov declared, using Russia’s euphemistic term for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. His statement came after Trump had confirmed the 10-day ultimatum, telling reporters aboard Air Force One, “Ten days from today. And then we’re gonna put on tariffs and stuff.”
Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev escalated the confrontational rhetoric, claiming that negotiations would only conclude when Russia achieved its maximalist demands, including regime change in Ukraine, alterations to NATO’s open-door policy, and Ukraine’s complete demilitarization. His position directly contradicted any possibility of compromise, revealing the Kremlin’s fundamental unwillingness to engage in genuine peace negotiations.
Peskov’s concurrent complaints about the “slowdown in the process to normalize Russian-American relations” demonstrated Moscow’s attempt to leverage unrelated issues, including arms control negotiations, to extract concessions on Ukraine. Despite claims of continued interest in peace, Russian actions on the battlefield told a different story entirely.
America Doubles Down: State Department Affirms Trump’s Seriousness
The U.S. State Department delivered a stark message reinforcing Trump’s credibility, with spokesperson Tammy Bruce declaring that “President Trump has proven that he should be taken seriously, because he’s a serious man.” Her comments came as the administration clarified that a range of economic measures, including secondary sanctions targeting countries purchasing Russian oil, were being actively considered.
Voice of Ukraine 