European leaders threatened to pressure Russia to accept an unconditional ceasefire fire in Ukraine if the Kremlin did not change its stance by the end of Monday, and impose sanctions that would immediately punish it.
“The clock is ticking by the moment. There are 12 hours until the end of today,” German government spokesman Stephen Cornelius said at a press conference.
The ultimatum was the latest turn on an increasingly enthusiastic diplomatic brink as the Trump administration is unhappy with the lack of progress in efforts to end Europe's most bloody conflict in a generation.
On Monday, a Kremlin spokesman dispelled the threat.
“The ultimate language is unacceptable. We cannot speak to Russia like this,” spokesman Dmitri S. Peskov told the Russian press.
Russian President Vladimir V. Putin has so far rejected an unconditional 30-day ceasefire, first proposed by the US in early March and quickly accepted by Ukraine.
Instead, Putin called for the resumption of direct negotiations with Ukraine this weekend. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded by challenging Russian leaders to meet in person.
“I will be in Turkey this week on Thursday, May 15th. I hope Putin will also come to Turkey. Personally, Zelensky said on Sunday. “And this time, I hope Putin isn't looking for an excuse for why he can't make it.”
Peskov did not comment on Zelensky's Gambit.
Zelensky's Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak told Ukrainian news outlet RBC-Ukraine that Kyiv is used to the Kremlin stall tactics. The offer to meet with the Russian president is intended to make it clear that “the ball is in the Moscow court,” he said.
“We don't give Russia any reason to accuse us of thwarting the peace process,” Yermak added.
Ukraine, along with its European allies, continued to insist on Monday that combat should be stopped before serious negotiations begin.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Kiev has shown again and again to make concessions to begin efforts to mediate lasting peace.
“Russia – Putin – is serious and wanting peace, or that's not serious and we have to impose more sanctions,” he told reporters.
When leaders from France, Germany, the UK and Poland traveled to Kiev over the weekend to convey the same message, they cautioned to coordinate their efforts with the White House. They have made it clear that simply agreeing to an unconditional ceasefire would save Moscow on oil exports and additional sanctions targeting banks. He also said that if Putin does not agree to a ceasefire, the US will also impose sanctions on Russia.
But after Putin opposed the in-person meeting without mentioning the ceasefire, Trump urged Ukrainians to hold a meeting.
“Ukraine should agree to this soon,” Trump wrote in a social media statement on Sunday.
Zelensky responds quickly and appears to be trying to turn the script over to the Russian leader.
Nataliya Vasileeva, Christopher F. Schuetze and Aurelien Breeden contributed the report.
