KYIV: Russia will face much tougher sanctions if it refuses a 30-day ceasefire demanded by the West, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in an interview published on Saturday.
If President Vladimir Putin does not agree to the truce, “there will be a massive hardening of sanctions and the massive aid to Ukraine will continue – politically, of course, but also financially and militarily,” Merz told the Bild daily.
He was visiting Kyiv on Saturday with the leaders of France, Britain and Poland.
“We agree with the US government, with Donald Trump. We are demanding a 30-day ceasefire so that peace negotiations can be prepared during this period,” he said.
“The ball is now in Putin’s court. Putin must respond to this offer.”