Germany threatens sanctions if Russia refuses ceasefire. Kremlin responds

According to Reuters, despite the ceasefire proposal backed by Europe and Kyiv, Ukraine’s military reported dozens of Russian attacks along the eastern front on Monday, along with an overnight drone assault involving more than 100 unmanned aircraft.

"The clock is ticking," a German government spokesperson said during a press briefing in Berlin. "We still have 12 hours until the end of the day, and if the ceasefire is not in place by then, the European side will (set in motion) preparations for sanctions."

On Saturday, the leaders of four major European countries traveled to Kyiv to push for an unconditional 30-day ceasefire to begin Monday. Vladimir Putin has not agreed to the proposal, instead suggesting direct talks with Ukraine in Istanbul that he claimed could eventually lead to a ceasefire.

In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would travel to Istanbul himself and would be ready to meet Putin there. The Kremlin has not responded to Zelenskyy’s offer. The two leaders have not met since December 2019 — more than two years before Russia launched its full-scale invasion — and remain openly hostile toward each other.

The Kremlin's reaction

"The language of ultimatums is unacceptable for Russia, it is not suitable. You cannot speak to Russia in such a language," said Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for the Russian dictator, TASS reports.

He noted that a similar statement from Western politicians had already been made on May 10, also "in a rather ultimatum-like form." At that time, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as well as the Prime Ministers of Great Britain and Poland, Keir Starmer and Donald Tusk, visited Kyiv, where, during negotiations with the Ukrainian side, they proposed a 30-day truce starting on May 12.

• Head of the Ukrainian President’s Office Andriy Yermak commented on the possibility of holding negotiations with Russia in Istanbul, stressing that while Ukraine is open to dialogue, it will not back down from its demand for a 30-day ceasefire.