It was a proposal that the Kremlin could neither outright reject nor accept, intended to force it into an awkward choice, revealing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s true appetite for his brutal war of choice.

Ukraine’s president is pushing for an immediate truce. European leaders have said they will would impose new sanctions on Moscow if Russia’s president does not accept.

Ukraine’s Western allies said they would strengthen sanctions if Russia refused an unconditional 30-day ceasefire.