EU warns Russia of fresh sanctions if it rejects truce; Moscow says 'ultimatums unacceptable'

European leaders stepped up pressure on Russia to accept an unconditional ceasefire 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.

"The clock is ticking - we still have 12 hours until the end of this day," the German govt spokesperson, Stefan Kornelius, said at a news conference.On Monday, the Kremlin spokesperson brushed off the threat. "The language of ultimatums is unacceptable - you cannot talk to Russia like this," the spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, told Russian news agencies. Russian President Putin has so far rejected an unconditional 30-day truce. French President Macron said, "Either Russia - Putin - is serious and wants peace, or it's not serious and we have to impose even more sanctions.

" Britain's foreign secretary, David Lammy, told reporters in London that it was time for Russia to stop stalling.