Britain and France accuse Putin of obstructing ceasefire talks in Ukraine.

In an escalation of international pressure on Moscow, Britain and France criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for delaying response to ceasefire initiatives in Ukraine, demanding an immediate reply to American proposals to end the conflict.

This comes after Russia rejected an American offer for a 30-day ceasefire, with Kremlin officials describing efforts to end the war as "taking a long time."

At a joint press conference at NATO headquarters, British Foreign Minister David Lamy, standing alongside his French counterpart Jean-Noel Baro in a show of solidarity between the two countries, stated, "It is clear that Putin is complicating matters and deliberately slowing down."

The countries are part of an international alliance called the "Coalition of the Willing," aiming to form an international force to monitor any potential peace agreement in Ukraine.

Lamy emphasized that Putin "continues to bomb civilians and Ukrainian infrastructure despite calls for a ceasefire," adding, "We see your actions, and we will not turn a blind eye to them."

Baro pointed out that Ukraine agreed to ceasefire terms weeks ago, while Russia lags in responding to American demands, expressing concern over escalating Russian military movements, especially after Putin's decision to enlist an additional 160,000 soldiers.

This statement comes as military leaders from the alliance prepare to meet in Kyiv, while NATO defense ministers will hold a meeting next week to discuss recent developments.