Overview

• The president shortened a 50-day deadline to about 10 days, warning that Russia must agree to a cease-fire by August 8 or face expanded secondary sanctions.
• A 25% levy on Indian imports took effect August 1 as punishment for New Delhi’s discounted crude purchases from Moscow.
• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov asserted that Russia’s economy is now immune to Western sanctions, while Dmitry Medvedev responded with Cold War nuclear “Dead Hand” warnings.
• Special envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Moscow after returning from Israel in an effort to revive stalled peace negotiations.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has approved key principles for large-scale U.S. weapons agreements but provided no specifics as attacks on Ukrainian cities continue.