KIEV, July 22 - U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations Samantha Power said she believes that Russia, through its influence on separatists in Ukraine, may put an end to the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine.

She said at a UN Security Council meeting on Monday that Russia continued to support separatists, providing them with weapons and not urging them to lay down their arms.

Power noted that separatists controlling the Malaysian plane crash site in eastern Ukraine were obstructing the investigation into the plane tragedy in Ukraine.