BERLIN, March 12 (Reuters) - The situation in the Black Sea has eased for the German fleet, the VDR shipowners' association said on Tuesday, adding German ships that were stuck there have been already released.

VDR also said there were some 2,000 Ukrainians and roughly 3,000 Russian sailors in the German merchant fleet and shipping companies were having trouble paying the Russians due to sanctions. (Reporting by Elke Ahlswede Writing by Madeline Chambers Editing by Rachel More)