Merkel: Sanctions against Russia cannot yet be lifted

Following talks with Polish Prime Minister Beata Szydlo, German leader Angela Merkel said sanctions against Moscow over the ongoing conflict Ukraine cannot yet be lifted.

"The situation on the ground is still unacceptable," she said, Deutsche Welle reports.

Merkel's comments came just hours after a telephone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which she urged Putin to use his influence on separatists in eastern Ukraine to bring an end to almost three years of violence. The two agreed, however, on the need for new ceasefire efforts.