New Delhi, July 30 -- US President Donald Trump's latest move to shorten the timeline for a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine has drawn sharply contrasting reactions from Kyiv and Moscow. While Ukrainian leaders welcomed the increased pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, top Russian officials issued stern warnings, framing the move as a provocation.

The Kremlin offered a cautious initial response. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday that Russia had "taken note" of Trump's statement, but said the Kremlin would refrain from commenting further. "I would like to avoid any assessments," Peskov said.

However, Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's former president and current deputy chairman of the Security Council, responded sharply, ...