\n<\/p>\n
European leaders stepped up pressure on Russia to accept an unconditional cease-fire in Ukraine, threatening to immediately impose a new round of punishing sanctions if the Kremlin did not change its stance by the end of Monday.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe clock is ticking \u2014 we still have 12 hours until the end of this day,\u201d the German government spokesman, Stefan Kornelius, told a news conference.<\/p>\n
The ultimatum was the latest turn in an increasingly frenetic round of diplomatic brinkmanship<\/a> as the Trump administration grows frustrated by a lack of progress in its efforts to end the bloodiest conflict in Europe in generations.<\/p>\n On Monday, the Kremlin spokesman brushed off the threat.<\/p>\n \u201cThe language of ultimatums is unacceptable \u2014 you cannot talk to Russia like this,\u201d the spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, told Russian news agencies.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia has so far rejected an unconditional 30-day truce that was first proposed by the United States in early March<\/a> and immediately accepted by Ukraine.<\/p>\n Instead, Mr. Putin called this weekend for the resumption of direct negotiations with Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine responded by challenging the Russian leader to meet him in person.<\/p>\n \u201cI will be in Turkey this Thursday, May 15, and I expect Putin to come to Turkey as well. Personally,\u201d Mr. Zelensky said on Sunday. \u201cAnd I hope that this time, Putin won\u2019t be looking for excuses as to why he \u2018can\u2019t\u2019 make it.\u201d<\/p>\n Mr. Peskov would not comment on Mr. Zelensky\u2019s gambit.<\/p>\n Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff to Mr. Zelensky, told the Ukrainian news outlet RBC-Ukraine that Kyiv was accustomed to the Kremlin\u2019s stalling tactics. The offer to meet with the Russian president, he said, was intended to make it clear that the \u201cthe ball is in Moscow\u2019s court.\u201d<\/p>\n