President Donald Trump’s 50-day ultimatum to Russia, demanding a ceasefire in Ukraine by August 2025 or face 100% tariffs on Russian exports and secondary sanctions on trading partners, has been met with dismissal in Moscow, underscoring the waning impact of U.S. presidential threats. Russian officials, from Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov to former President Dmitry Medvedev, rejected the demand as “unacceptable” and “theatrical,” while the Kremlin continued its bombardment of Ukrainian cities, signaling no intent to comply. Why It Fell Flat Trump’s July 14 announcement, made alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, promised new weapons for Ukraine and severe economic penalties if Russia doesn’t negotiate peace. However, Moscow’s response reveals several reasons for the ultimatum’s failure. First, Russia’s economy, though...