Obama, Merkel reiterate urgent importance of ending violence in east Ukraine

"The President and the Chancellor also discussed the situation in Ukraine and reiterated the urgent importance of durably ending the violence in eastern Ukraine and of full and rapid implementation of the Minsk agreements," the statement reads. As reported, the US, as well as other G7 member countries and some other states and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Russia in connection with the occupation of Crimea and Moscow's aggression in eastern Ukraine.