14:26
More details regarding Putin’s admission that Russia had personnel in Ukraine, from AFP:

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia did have personnel in eastern Ukraine who were carrying out certain military tasks but denied Moscow had deployed regular troops there.

“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 (regular) troops there, feel the difference.”

Putin said Russia was ready to persuade separatists in eastern Ukraine that a compromise was needed in order to achieve a political settlement of the conflict there.

He also said he expected trade relations with Ukraine to worsen, but that Moscow would not impose any sanctions on Kiev related to its trade deal with the European Union.

14:20
Putin has dodged questions about Turchak, Chaika, and Rotenberg. He’s made a joke about fur coats instead.

14:06
Some points from Putin on Ukraine:

Russia does not plan to introduce any sanctions against Ukraine
Russia will not give Ukraine any trade preferences from Jan 2016
Russia has no interest in worsening of Ukraine conflict
Russia wants a solution to the conflict but not at the cost of people in eastern Ukraine
Russia wants to fulfill the Minsk peace agreement
Kiev is not completely fulfilling aspects of the Minsk deal relating to special status for eastern regions
Russia is ready to persuade people in south-east Ukraine that a solution is needed

12m ago
Here’s some copy from the Associated Press about Putin’s comments on Syria.

President Vladimir Putin says that Russian military operation in Syria will continue until a political process starts. Putin said at a televised news conference that once the Syrians decide it’s time to stop fighting and launch talks, “we aren’t going to be more Syrian than the Syrians themselves,” and Moscow will wrap up its military action.

He says that he was unsure whether Russia needs a permanent military base in Syria. He said new Russian weapons, such as sea- and air-launched cruise missiles, give Moscow enough punch to strike an enemy and there may be no need for a permanent base in Syria.

22 m ago
Putin on Turkey shooting down Russian bomber:

"Did they think we`d run away? No, we`re not that kind of country. Downing of Russian military aircraft by Turkey was ``a hostile act." People were killed.. no accident. They tried to cover it up. Turkey`s leadership "stabbed us in the back". Putin says Ataturk would be rolling in his grave over Islamization in modern Turkey. Putin says sees no possibility to mend ties with Turkey on world stage after shooting down of Russian warplane`

30m ago
Putin says he doesn’t see any prospect for reviving relations with Turkey.

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