Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted on Thursday during his annual press conference was that Russian military personnel were in eastern Ukraine carrying out "certain military tasks" though he denied a regular troop presence in the region.
"We never said there were no people there who were carrying out certain tasks including in the military sphere," Putin told an annual news conference. "But that does not mean there are Russian troops there, feel the difference."
Summary of Putin's new Ukraine line: they weren't soldiers, but certain people carrying out certain tasks of a certain military nature. 
— Shaun Walker (@shaunwalker7) December 17, 2015
His remarks are a shift in the oft repeated line that Russia is not backing pro-Moscow separatists who have been warring with pro-Kiev forces since last year. Putin also said Moscow is ready to persuade separatists to work toward a political compromise and said he expects relations with Ukraine to further deteriorate following its decision to enter a trade deal with the European Union.
http://www.dw.com/en/putin-basks-in-the-limelight-of-global-media/a-18924143
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