BERLIN, Nov. 5 - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday there was no way Europe would give Russia any relief from economic sanctions imposed over the Ukraine crisis and separatist leaders appointed after Sunday's election could also be added to sanction lists, Reuters reported.

"There is no possibility of alleviating or lifting sanctions that have been imposed," Merkel said, urging respect for the Minsk ceasefire agreement reached in September, which Berlin says was violated by the elections in rebel-held eastern Ukraine.