European leaders stepped up stress on Russia to just accept an unconditional cease-fire in Ukraine, threatening to instantly impose a brand new spherical of punishing sanctions if the Kremlin didn’t change its stance by the tip of Monday.
“The clock is ticking — we nonetheless have 12 hours till the tip of today,” the German authorities spokesman, Stefan Kornelius, instructed a information convention.
The ultimatum was the newest flip in an more and more frenetic round of diplomatic brinkmanship because the Trump administration grows pissed off by a scarcity of progress in its efforts to finish the bloodiest battle in Europe in generations.
On Monday, the Kremlin spokesman disregarded the risk.
“The language of ultimatums is unacceptable — you can’t speak to Russia like this,” the spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, instructed Russian information companies.
President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has thus far rejected an unconditional 30-day truce that was first proposed by the United States in early March and instantly accepted by Ukraine.
As an alternative, Mr. Putin referred to as this weekend for the resumption of direct negotiations with Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine responded by difficult the Russian chief to fulfill him in individual.
“I will likely be in Turkey this Thursday, Might 15, and I count on Putin to return to Turkey as nicely. Personally,” Mr. Zelensky stated on Sunday. “And I hope that this time, Putin gained’t be on the lookout for excuses as to why he ‘can’t’ make it.”
Mr. Peskov wouldn’t touch upon Mr. Zelensky’s gambit.
Andriy Yermak, the chief of employees to Mr. Zelensky, instructed the Ukrainian information outlet RBC-Ukraine that Kyiv was accustomed to the Kremlin’s stalling techniques. The supply to fulfill with the Russian president, he stated, was supposed to make it clear that the “the ball is in Moscow’s court docket.”
“We gained’t give Russia motive to accuse us of sabotaging the peace course of,” Mr. Yermak added.
Ukraine, together with its European allies, continued to insist on Monday that the preventing wanted to cease earlier than critical negotiations might get underway.
President Emmanuel Macron of France stated that Kyiv had proven itself keen repeatedly to make concessions in an effort to start the onerous work of brokering a long-lasting peace.
“Both Russia — Mr. Putin — is critical and desires peace, or it’s not critical and we now have to impose much more sanctions,” he instructed reporters.
Britain’s overseas secretary, David Lammy, instructed reporters in London that it was time for Russia to cease stalling. “That is the time for Vladimir Putin to get critical about peace in Europe, to get critical a few cease-fire, and to get critical about talks,” he stated.
When the leaders of France, Germany, Britain and Poland traveled to Kyiv over the weekend to ship that very same message, they had been cautious to coordinate their efforts with the White Home. They made clear that solely agreeing to an unconditional cease-fire would spare Moscow further sanctions focusing on oil exports and banking — and stated that the USA would additionally impose sanctions on Russia if Mr. Putin didn’t comply with a truce.
Nonetheless, after Mr. Putin made a counteroffer of direct talks with out mentioning a cease-fire, President Trump urged the Ukrainians to take the assembly.
“Ukraine ought to comply with this, IMMEDIATELY,” Mr. Trump wrote on Sunday in an announcement on social media.
Mr. Zelensky responded swiftly, seemingly in search of to flip the script on the Russian chief by saying he agreed to negotiations in any format and that he would journey to Turkey to fulfill with Mr. Putin — personally.
Nataliya Vasilyeva, Christopher F. Schuetze, Aurelien Breeden and Stephen Fort contributed reporting.
