Russia has until midnight Monday to abide by a 30-day ceasefire in its war against Ukraine or face a new round of sanctions, Germany has said.
The ultimatum from Berlin comes as Ukraine said Russia was still carrying out attacks along the front line, despite a ceasefire proposal agreed on the weekend among Kyiv’s allies for a 30-day ceasefire to start Monday. The Kremlin said such an ultimatum “is unacceptable for Russia.”
It also comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he would be in Istanbul on Thursday for direct talks with Vladimir Putin, amid a push by U.S. President Donald Trump to end the war.
Newsweek reached out to the Kremlin and the German government for comment.
Why It Matters
Germany’s warning adds pressure on Russia, whose sanctions-hit economy could face further turbulence if another tranche of measures is imposed to punish Putin for his aggression.
It could also shift the dial amid fast-moving diplomatic developments in which Zelensky raised the prospect of meeting Putin in their first face-to-face meeting since the start of the war.
What To Know
The leaders of Germany, France, the United Kingdom and Poland met with Zelensky in Kyiv over the weekend and demanded an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from Monday.
Putin had indirectly rejected the offer, instead proposing restarting direct talks in Istanbul, although he has not explicitly said he would attend.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force said there was no let-up from Russia overnight Sunday after it launched 108 long-range combat drones across the country, and Viktor Trehubov, a Ukrainian military spokesperson, said Russian troops conducted dozens of assaults on the eastern front line in Ukraine.
L-R: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk after their meeting in Kyiv on May 10, 2025.
L-R: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk after their meeting in Kyiv on May 10, 2025.
GENYA SAVILOV/Getty Images
A German government spokesperson said in a news conference in Berlin on Monday that if Russia did not respect the ceasefire by the end of the day, the European side would start to prepare sanctions, adding, “the clock is ticking,” Reuters reported.
As of late Monday afternoon, Moscow had not responded to the demand, following Zelensky saying he would be in Istanbul to meet Putin. The Ukrainian president’s statement followed Trump urging him on social media to meet.
Putin and Zelensky have not met since December 2019, over two years before Moscow launched its full-scale invasion.
What People Are Saying
German government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said if a ceasefire is not in place by the end of Monday, “the European side will (set in motion) preparations for sanctions…the clock is ticking.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov: “This kind of ultimatum language is unacceptable for Russia.”
What Happens Next
As well as anticipation over what Berlin might do next if Russia does not heed its warning by midnight, there is speculation over whether Putin will attend the talks in Turkey as proposed by Zelensky.
Russia and Ukraine are likely to continue to try to show Trump they are working toward his goal of a swift peace in Ukraine while making the other look like the spoiler to this plan. Kyiv wants more military backing from Washington and Moscow seeks an easing of sanctions.