Germany's Merkel hints at lifting some sanctions against Russia

 (Vatican Radio) German Chancellor Angela Merkel has not ruled out a lifting of some European Union sanctions against Russia if Moscow implements a peace plan on resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine. 

Speaking after talks with the Ukrainian prime minister in Berlin on Thursday, she also announced plans of major powers involved in trying to end the fighting on arranging a possible meeting in Kazakhstan. 

Listen to this report by Stefan Bos

Speaking at a news conference with visiting Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk,Chancellor Merkel warned that she did not expect sanctions tied to Crimea could be lifted, as this would require "a reversal" of Russia's annexation of the peninsula. 

Yet she was more hopeful on sanctions related to eastern Ukraine, where government forces have been fighting against pro-Russian separatists. "The other sanctions were introduced in response to the intervention in eastern Ukraine," she recalled. 

"Fulfilling the entire Minsk [peace] agreement is the way to bring about a reversal (of sanctions) here. The entire Minsk agreement must be implemented before we can say these sanctions can be lifted," Merkel added. 

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said last month that he planned to meet on January 15 in Astana, the Kazakh capital, with Merkel and the presidents of Russia and France. 

However Merkel said after meeting Ukraine's prime minister that the four countries' foreign ministers are working on a "possible meeting in Astana" but more talks are needed before it is clear whether it will happen. 

And Ukrainian Prime Minister Yatseniuk expressed his mistrust towards Russia, who he has blamed for supporting pro-Russian rebels. 

"In my opinion the Russian federation has simply to meet its obligations mentioned in the Minsk document," he said. "It is not about words about about actions. Russia has to act," Yatseniuk added. 

"It must withdraw its own bandits from Ukraine, renew the border controls and stop delivering of weapons. Only this will lead to a deescalation of the conflict."

Moscow has denied it supports pro-Russian rebels with weapons and troops. 

Nearly, 5,000 people have died in the conflict, and some demonstrators in rainy Berlin carried signs saying stop the war.