KIEV: With Ukraine’s shaky truce set to expire on Monday, the leaders of Germany and France have warned Vladimir Putin that Russia could face punishing sanctions unless he forces the pro-Russian rebels Moscow is accused of backing to suspend their deadly uprising.

The French presidency said Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel made their case to the Russian strongman in a call on Sunday that stretched for more than two hours, and included Ukraine’s embattled pro-Western leader Petro Poroshenko.

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