West ignored Russia’s security concerns: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron that the West had ignored Moscow's security concerns over Nato expansion and Ukraine, the Kremlin said.

The United States and Nato earlier this week delivered a response to sweeping security demands put to them by Russia, that called on the West to promise never to admit Ukraine to the US-led security alliance.

A Russian troop build-up close to the border with eastern Ukraine has raised Western fears the Kremlin is planning to invade its pro-EU neighbour. Russia denies any plans to invade.

"The US and Nato responses did not take into account Russia's fundamental concerns including preventing Nato's expansion and refusing to deploy strike weapons systems near Russia's borders," Putin told Macron, the Kremlin said in a statement.

The Kremlin said the two leaders had spoken at length, with Putin telling Macron he will "carefully" study the US and Nato's responses "after which he will decide on his further actions".