Vladimir Putin says he is "more optimist than pessimist" on Ukraine, but warns that there will be "no end to war if Kiev believes in a military solution." Noting that he believes there has been an "overall decrease" in military activity, he notes that Debaltseve was "possible to forecast," and then proclaims: *PUTIN SAYS U.S. ARMS ALREADY BEING SUPPLIED TO UKRAINE Of course, we already have "YouTube" proof of American military presence in Ukraine (which for Washington would have been good enough to wage war) but Putin offers no specific proof and adds rather pointedly that "most Ukraine troops want no part of fractricidal war." Putin was speaking at a press conference with Hungary's President Orban, and added: *PUTIN SAYS HOPEFUL BOTH SIDES IN UKRAINE TO COMPLY WITH ACCORDS *PUTIN SEES OVERALL DECREASE IN MILITARY ACTIVITY IN UKRAINE *PUTIN SAYS HE'S MORE OF AN OPTIMIST THAN PESSIMIST ON UKRAINE *PUTIN: KEY GOAL TO SAVE LIVES OF PEOPLE TRAPPED IN DEBALTSEVE *PUTIN SAYS MOST UKRAINE TROOPS WANT NO PART IN FRATRICIDAL WAR adding that *PUTIN SAYS DEBALTSEVE STANDOFF WAS POSSIBLE TO FORECAST And here's why - because Debaltseve is really just a front guard staging point: Russian President Vladimir Putin calls upon Ukrainian soldiers encircled in the eastern city of Debaltseve to surrender. "I expect that those responsible in the Ukrainian leadership won't hinder the soldiers to lay down their arms," Putin says in Budapest. He adds that he hopes that the separatists surrounding them will let the soldiers return home and not take them prisoner. And finally: *PUTIN SAYS U.S. ARMS ALREADY BEING SUPPLIED TO UKRAINE * * * One wonders how Merkel will respond if Putin shows her proof?