You're reading: US officials: Russia can influence separatists in eastern Ukraine

Russia can influence supporters of the federalization in eastern Ukraine, and should therefore help in the implementation of the Geneva agreements, the U.S. State Department's spokesperson, Jennifer Psaki, said on April 18.

 Speaking at a briefing in Washington, Psaki said that the U.S. believes that Moscow had such influence and expressed the hope that Russia would help in the implementation of this agreement.

When asked if Russia would be held accountable for the failure of the attempts to resolve the situation in eastern Ukraine, Psaki said that they believed Russia had the means to influence the separatists.