Russia must influence separatists to end Ukraine crisis, says Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel appealed to the Russian government on Sunday to use its influence on separatists in eastern Ukraine to implement a cease-fire plan agreed in Minsk in September aimed at ending the conflict. "A stabilization of the situation can only come if the agreed contact lines are finally implemented. She appealed to the Russian government to use its influence on the separatists to this end," said a spokeswoman in a statement on the behalf of Merkel. The truce has been flouted by both sides but violence in eastern Ukraine has decreased during December.