Germany warns ‘clock is ticking’ for Russia to agree to Ukraine ceasefire

Germany warned the “clock is ticking” for Russia to agree by the end of Monday to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine or face potential new sanctions.

If Moscow does not accept the demand, “preparations will be set in motion” in Brussels for fresh sanctions, a government spokesman said in Berlin.

Four European leaders, including new German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, demanded during a weekend visit to Kyiv that Russia agree to the ceasefire to allow for peace talks.

“The Ukrainian president has made it clear that he is prepared to agree to a ceasefire,” the German government spokesman said.

“He has made major concessions in the last two weeks… and it is now up to the Russian side to respond to these proposals and agree to serious political negotiations.”

The German warning came as Britain was hosting a key meeting of European ministers on the over three-year Ukraine war.
Moscow has appeared to reject the call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire.

Instead, Russian President Vladimir Putin came back with a counter-proposal for direct Russia-Ukraine talks in Istanbul on Thursday.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday he would be willing to meet Putin in Turkey “personally.”

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader had presented a ceasefire as a precondition for talks in Istanbul.

The spokesman in Berlin said it was “possible” for talks to take place without a ceasefire, but added that this was up to Zelenskyy.