title: We'll lift Russia sanctions when east Ukraine is peaceful: Merkel
text: BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Friday that she wanted European Union sanctions against Russia lifted, but only once peaceful conditions had been achieved in eastern Ukraine. Speaking at an election campaign rally in the eastern town of Strasburg, Merkel said Russia s grave violations of international law made sanctions necessary.  I spend much of my time working to achieve reasonable, good relations with Russia,  Merkel said, adding that she was trying, along with France, to achieve  peaceful conditions  in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow-backed separatists are fighting a war against the Kiev government.  The moment we get that, we will also lift the sanctions,  she said, adding that Russia s annexation of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine and its backing for separatists were  against the principles that we have had in place since World War Two . If Russia s actions were allowed to stand, there was a risk they would be repeated, Merkel said. 