Great Britain and France on Friday accused Russian dictator Vladimir Putin of stalling ceasefire negotiations aimed at ending hostilities in Ukraine, and stepped up pressure on Moscow, insisting it must give the United States an immediate response, UNN writes, citing AP.
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Russia has effectively rejected a US proposal for a full and immediate 30-day cessation of hostilities after a Kremlin spokesman said on Monday that Moscow sees efforts to end its three-year war with Ukraine as a "protracted" process, the paper notes.
"We believe that Putin continues to obfuscate, continues to drag out the time," British Foreign Secretary David Lammy told reporters at NATO headquarters, standing next to his French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot in a symbolic show of unity.
Great Britain and France are helping to lead a multinational effort known as the "coalition of the willing" to create forces to ensure future peace in Ukraine.
Lammy said that while Putin should accept a ceasefire, "he continues to bomb Ukraine. It's civilians. It's energy supplies. We see you, Vladimir Putin. We know what you're doing."
Barrot said that Ukraine accepted the terms of a ceasefire three weeks ago, and that Russia now "has to give an answer to the United States."
"Russia is changing course, continuing to strike energy infrastructure, continuing to commit war crimes," Barrot said. - There must be a "yes". There must be a "no." There must be a quick answer."
He said Russia is showing no intention of ending its military campaign, noting that Putin on Monday ordered a draft aimed at 160,000 conscripts for annual compulsory military service.
The two foreign ministers pledged to continue to help strengthen Ukraine's armed forces - "the best security guarantee for the country since the US removed any prospect of NATO membership from the agenda," the paper notes.
Army commanders of the "coalition of the willing" were scheduled to meet in Kyiv on Friday. The group's defense ministers will meet at NATO headquarters next Thursday.