Russia Weighs Limited Air Truce with Ukraine to Avert US Sanctions

Russia is considering a limited air truce in Ukraine as a potential concession to U.S. President Donald Trump to avoid secondary tariffs and sanctions, with a deadline set by Trump on August 8. The proposed truce would involve a pause in drone and missile strikes, contingent on Ukraine's agreement, while Russia remains committed to continuing its military operations without a full ceasefire. This move comes amid mounting pressure from Trump, who has threatened 100% secondary tariffs targeting buyers of Russian oil, including countries like China and India, which could disrupt the global oil supply chain. Russian officials view the visit of Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to Moscow as a crucial opportunity to negotiate, though chances of success remain low. Kremlin-aligned analysts describe the air truce as a possible "gift" to Trump, but President Vladimir Putin continues to reject a general ceasefire and maintains Russia's military objectives. The proposal aligns with earlier suggestions from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and reflects a strategic effort by Moscow to ease U.S. pressure without ending the war.