Angela Merkel meets Putin and warns EU will lift Russia sanctions only on THIS condition..
THE European Union will lift sanctions on Russia on one condition, Angela Merkel has told Vladimir Putin.
Angela Merkel met Vladimir Putin for face-to-face talks in Sochi today
Brussels has taken a tough stance on Russia since Mr Putin controversially annexed Crimea three years ago.
But during tense face-to-face talks in Sochi today, the German chancellor told him the restrictions could eventually be lifted.
She warned he must fully implement the Minsk Agreement, struck in 2014 in a desperate bid to halt the war in Ukraine.
Mrs Merkel said: "For me the aim is to reach the point in the implementation of the Minsk accords where we can lift the EU's sanctions against Russia."
But Mr Putin stood firm, saying the Ukrainian government "lost its chance of resolving this conflict a couple of years ago".
He added: "Now the situation is a lot more complicated in political and economic terms."
Mr Putin said Ukraine has 'lost its chance' to resolve the conflict
Mrs Merkel addressed fears of cyber-hackers meddling in the German election
We expect the German election will go ahead unharmed
Mrs Merkel also addressed concerns that Russian cyber-hackers could meddle in this year's German election.
She told a joint press conference with Mr Putin: "We know cyber criminality is an international challenge.
"But we expect the German election will go ahead unharmed. We have enough different positions to tackle a range of topics."
Mr Putin denied claims of Russian involvement in Donald Trump's victory
Mr Putin again insisted the Kremlin had not interfered in last year's US election to help Donald Trump win.
The Russian President said: "We never interfere in the political life and the political processes of other countries.
"And we don't want anybody interfering in our political life and foreign policy processes."