The new package of EU sanctions comes one day before a direct round of negotiations between Ukraine and Russia in Turkey. View on euronews

Three-day ceasefire in Ukraine that was unilaterally declared by Russian President Vladimir Putin last month was set to come into effect at 5 p.m. ET on Wednesday (midnight Moscow time), as Russia prepares to mark the anniversary of its World War II Victory Day on Friday.

Zelenskyy said on X on Sunday morning that it was a “positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war,” but insisted on a ceasefire first.

PARIS (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday he was in favour of imposing new sanctions on Russia in coming days if Moscow failed to agree to a ceasefire, mentioning financial services and oil and gas as possible targets.

The announcement was made by leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine after a meeting in Kyiv, and a phone call with President Trump.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday challenged Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to meet him personally in Turkey on Thursday, the latest move in a weekend-long exchange of proposals from both sides on the next steps in the U.

They said that if President Vladimir V. Putin did not agree to the cease-fire, more sanctions would be imposed.