Ukraine's Poroshenko says sanctions against Russia must remain

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko arrive for a news conference at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany, February 1, 2016. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke

BERLIN (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Monday urged the West to maintain sanctions against Russia over its backing of militants in the east of the country.

"Sanctions against Russia must stay in place until Russia fully implements the Minsk agreement," Poroshenko said at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin.