European leaders issued a strong warning to Russia on Monday, threatening a new wave of sanctions if Moscow fails to agree to an unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine by the end of the day.
“The clock is ticking—we still have 12 hours until the end of the day,” said German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius during a press briefing, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
The proposed ceasefire, aimed at de-escalating ongoing hostilities, would last 30 days. However, the Kremlin has so far rejected the terms, with Russian President Vladimir Putin reportedly unwilling to commit without preconditions.
In response to the EU’s ultimatum, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissed the warning, telling Russian news agencies: “The language of ultimatums is unacceptable. You cannot talk to Russia like this.”
European leaders have grown increasingly vocal. French President Emmanuel Macron stated: “Either President Putin is serious about peace, or he’s not—and in that case, we must impose even stronger sanctions.”
Echoing this sentiment, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in London: “It’s time for Russia to stop stalling and take meaningful steps toward ending the conflict.”
The EU has already imposed multiple rounds of sanctions since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. A new round would likely target critical sectors such as energy, finance, and defense, aimed at further isolating Moscow on the global stage.
