The German government says Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged President Vladimir Putin to use Russia's influence with separatists in eastern Ukraine to help secure progress toward a political solution.<br />Merkel's office said the two leaders spoke by phone Tuesday at Putin's request.<br />The call came a day after Merkel met Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Berlin and nearly a year after Germany and France brokered a peace deal for eastern Ukraine.<br />Merkel said the security situation in eastern Ukraine must be improved, a cease-fire kept to and international observers given unrestricted access to the conflict zone to enable further progress.<br />On Monday, Merkel made clear that she doesn't see grounds for lifting economic sanctions against Russia at present.<br />In December, the European Union extended the sanctions through July.
