Diplomatic patience seems to be at an end: Donald Trump, who wants to run again as the Republican candidate in the upcoming US elections, has given Russian President Vladimir Putin an ultimatum.

In a press conference on the sidelines of a meeting with foreign policy advisers, Trump said, according to the German daily newspaper BILD, that Russia must send “clear signals of peace within the next two weeks” – otherwise the US would reconsider its position.

BILD further reports that Trump formulated his warning in clear language:

“If Putin thinks he can continue to wage war while pretending to engage in peace talks, he is seriously mistaken.”

The escalation comes against the backdrop of recent Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, including drone and missile strikes on civilian targets, which, according to international observers, took place despite ongoing diplomatic channels.

Trump’s change of position is causing a stir in the US: just a few months ago, he had taken a much more moderate tone toward Russia. Now he is emphasizing that sticking to the current course is no longer tenable.

BILD quotes him as saying, “Our patience is running out. In two weeks, we will see if there is hope for peace or if new measures are necessary.”

Trump is deliberately leaving the door open for negotiations. According to the White House, no new sanctions against Russia are currently planned so as not to jeopardize the ongoing dialogue. At the same time, options are being examined to increase pressure should Russia ignore the ultimatum. According to BILD, increased military support for Ukraine is also not out of the question if Moscow fails to show any movement.

International analysts see the ultimatum as a diplomatic move to put Putin under public pressure – a strategy that could well prove effective. As former US National Security Advisor John Bolton told US broadcaster CNN, “publicly issued ultimatums often have a stronger effect than secret notes, especially in authoritarian regimes.”

Whether Putin will respond remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the next two weeks could have a decisive influence on the course of US policy toward Russia – and thus also on the dynamics of the war in Ukraine.