Angela Merkel says way forward in Ukraine crisis will be 'extremely difficult'

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Monday that the situation in eastern Ukraine remained fragile and that the path to a comprehensive peace would be "extremely difficult".

"The situation is fragile. Particularly with regard to Debaltseve this is not unexpected", Merkel said during a news conference in Berlin, referring to a strategic railway junction in eastern Ukraine where ongoing fighting was reported.

"It was always clear that much remains to be done. And I have always said that there are no guarantees that what we are trying to do succeeds. It will be an extremely difficult path."

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