Germany warns Russia of harder sanctions if it refuses Ukraine ceasefire

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned Russia will face massively tougher sanctions if it refuses a 30-day ceasefire demanded by the West, in an interview published Saturday by the Bild daily.

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," said Merz, who was visiting Kyiv on Saturday with the leaders of France, Britain and Poland.