Merkel urges Putin to use influence over pro-Russian separatists in UkraineUKRAINE CRISIS | 02 de Febrero de 2016
Berlin, Feb 2 (EFE) .- German Chancellor Angela Merkel had a telephone conversation on Tuesday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging him to use his influence over the pro-Russian separatists operating in eastern Ukraine in order to proceed with implementing the Minsk agreements. The German government said in a statement that the conversation was at the request of Putin, after Merkel met on Monday with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, and it was emphasized that the sanctions imposed on Russia will remain until Moscow fulfills the Minsk agreements. The German chancellor told Putin that progress towards a comprehensive, political solution requires improving security in eastern Ukraine and respecting the cease-fire, according to the statement. Merkel said that "Russia must assert its influence on the separatists" advocating that legislation should be laid down as soon as possible to hold local elections in Donbass, where Donetsk and Lugansk are located. The cease-fire in eastern Ukraine is one of the main points of the Minsk agreements and is essential to proceed with the implementation of the agreed political points.
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