Russia has launched new attacks against Ukraine despite Western allies calling for a 30-day ceasefire starting today. Germany says the ‚clock is ticking‘ and if a truce is not in place by the end of Monday, then more sanctions will be prepared. Follow the latest here.
Monday 12 May 2025 15:48, UK
Thank you for reading.
The main events today have been:
Poland has said it will close the Russian consulate in Krakow after finding evidence that Moscow was responsible for a huge fire that almost completely destroyed a shopping centre in Warsaw last year.
Russia has accused Poland of „Russophobia“ and denied any involvement in the blaze.
Yesterday Donald Tusk, Poland’s prime minister, said his country knew „for sure“ that Russian secret services were behind the fire.
„Due to evidence that the Russian special services committed a reprehensible act of sabotage against the shopping centre on Marywilska Street, I have decided to withdraw my consent to the operation of the consulate of the Russian Federation in Krakow,“ Polish foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski wrote on X.
He told reporters at a meeting of foreign ministers in London that Poland would take further action if attacks continued.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: „Many different accusations against Russia are voiced in Poland.
„This is part of an absolutely Russophobic and unfriendly position towards our country.“
He claimed such accusations were „always absolutely groundless“.
As we have been reporting, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has been hosting the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain in London today, along with the EU’s foreign affairs chief.
In a joint statement, they welcomed the prospect of peace talks between Russia and Ukraine this week, but also said Moscow has „not shown any serious intent to make progress“.
It must „do so without delay“, they added.
They are calling for an „immediate, full, unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create space for talks on a just, comprehensive and lasting peace“.
The ministers said they had agreed to help Ukraine strengthen its armed forces, „restock munitions and equipment, and further enhance industrial capacity“.
They also said they would explore the „creation of a coalition of air, land and maritime reassurance forces“ that could „support the regeneration of Ukraine’s armed forces“.
Regarding sanctions, they said they would pursue „ambitious measures“ to „reduce Russia’s ability to wage war by limiting Kremlin revenues, disrupting the shadow fleet, tightening the oil price cap, and reducing our remaining imports of Russian energy“.
They added: „We will keep Russian sovereign assets in our jurisdictions immobilised until Russia ceases its aggression and pays for the damage caused.“
Russia is serious about peace in Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said.
But he also reprimanded European countries for the „language of ultimatums“ on further sanctions.
„We are committed to a serious search for ways of a long-term peaceful settlement,“ he told reporters.
Vladimir Putin has suggested talks in Istanbul on Thursday.
Peskov said many leaders had welcomed the Russian leader’s plan.
„This approach, aimed precisely at finding a real diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian crisis, eliminating the root causes of the conflict and establishing lasting peace, has met with understanding and support from the leaders of many countries,“ he said, citing Donald Trump and Tayyip Erdogan, the president of Turkey.
Before reporters could ask any more questions, Peskov said: „That’s all. I’ve said everything I could about this story.“
Germany has said European countries will start preparing new sanctions against Russia unless the Kremlin commits to a 30-day ceasefire by the end of today.
Peskov commented: „The language of ultimatums is unacceptable for Russia, it is not suitable.
„You can’t use such language with Russia.“
Putin and Zelenskyy have not met since December 2019.
Zelekskyy has said he will be in Turkey on Thursday and has challenged Putin to meet him face-to-face.
Hungary has cancelled a meeting with Ukraine on minority rights after a row over alleged spying last week.
Hungarian foreign ministry state secretary Levente Magyar said the meeting, to be held in Ukraine, could not go ahead on „such an important and sensitive matter“.
But Hungary remains open to dialogue, he added.
On Friday Ukraine’s spy agency, the SBU, said it had detained two suspected agents who, it claimed, were being run by Hungarian military intelligence.
In retaliation, Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto said his country had expelled two people he said were working as spies at Ukraine’s embassy in Budapest.
Iran is getting ready for a visit by Vladimir Putin, a government spokesperson has said.
„Putin’s trip to Tehran is currently being worked out, preparations are underway,“ Fatemeh Mohajerani said, according to Russia state news agency RIA.
The Kremlin did not comment.
Iran has been supplying Moscow with Shahed drones to use in Russian attacks against Ukraine.
Putin held talks with supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Iran in 2022.
That was the Russian president’s first trip outside Russia since he began the invasion of Ukraine.
Russia is „completely ignoring the offer of a full and durable ceasefire“ starting today, Ukraine’s foreign minister has said.
Andrii Sybiha said Russian troops are continuing to attack „Ukrainian positions all along the frontline“.
He added: „Moscow squanders another opportunity to put an end to the killings.
„This once again demonstrates that Russia’s only goal is to prolong the war.“
Over the weekend, European countries including the UK proposed a 30-day ceasefire.
Sybiha, who joined a meeting of foreign ministers convened by UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy remotely, said those taking part had discussed „strong steps that can be taken“.
Those included „sanctions against Russia’s banking, central bank, and energy sectors“.
They were combined with „new defence assistance packages for Ukraine“.
Putin must „understand the consequences of rejecting peace efforts and continuing the war“, Sybiha said.
Russian troops have captured the village of Kotliarivka in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, the Russian defence ministry has said.
It made the claim on the Telegram messaging app.
Sky News cannot independently verify that assertion.
„Russia clearly wants war,“ the EU’s foreign affairs chief has said.
Kaja Kallas, who is in London for discussions on Ukrainian and European security, said there must be a truce because there „cannot be talks under fire“.
She added: „We want to see that Russia also wants peace.
„It takes two to want peace, it takes only one to want war, and we see that Russia clearly wants war.“
David Lammy, the UK foreign secretary who is hosting talks at Lancaster House, said Vladimir Putin must „get serious“ about engaging in peace talks.
But if it’s not a „moment of seriousness from Putin“, Europe’s leaders are „prepared“, he added.
Lammy also praised Volodymyr Zelenskyy for his „willingness to engage in talks“.
The Ukrainian president has said he will be in Turkey on Thursday to meet Vladimir Putin in person after Moscow suggested new discussions.
It is unclear whether Putin will join him.
European nations will prepare more sanctions against Russia if Moscow does not adhere to a ceasefire in Ukraine by the end of Monday, a German government spokesperson has said.
They said: „The clock is ticking.
„We still have 12 hours until the end of the day, and if the ceasefire is not in place by then, the European side will (set in motion) preparations for sanctions.“
Over the weekend, a number of European countries demanded that a 30-day ceasefire begin today.
Russia responded by suggesting talks in Turkey on Thursday.
It also reportedly launched more than 100 drones against Ukrainian targets overnight.
Russian troops have also conducted dozens of assaults on the eastern front line in Ukraine today, according to spokesman Viktor Trehubov.
Earlier, Germany’s foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, said Vladimir Putin needed to consider a ceasefire before entering any new peace negotiations in Turkey (8.23am post).
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