Russian President Vladimir Putin has told his French counterpart that the West has ignored Russia’s security concerns, amid fears Russia could invade Ukraine.
The US rejected a key Moscow demand that Nato rule out Ukraine joining the defence alliance – but insisted it was offering Russia a “diplomatic path”.
President Joe Biden has warned there is a “distinct possibility” Russia might invade Ukraine next month.
Russia denies it is planning an attack.
But Mr Putin said the stand-off had not been resolved.
“US and Nato responses did not take account of such key Russian concerns as preventing Nato expansion, non-deployment of strike weapons systems near Russian borders, or returning the alliance’s military potential and infrastructure in Europe to positions existing in 1997”, a Kremlin readout of the call said.
Shortly after Mr Putin’s comments to French President Emmanuel Macron, Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance was ready to increase its presence in eastern Europe to demonstrate its resolve.
Mr Stoltenberg said Russia was deploying thousands of combat-ready troops and missile systems into Belarus, which also borders Ukraine.
