Putin repeats security demands from West during Macron phone call

Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated his country's demands for binding security guarantees in Europe during a phone call with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, the Kremlin announced on Friday.

Putin also said that Russia was now analysing the written responses to his proposals from the US and NATO and would then decide on its next steps, the Kremlin said.

Russia's demands that the eastward expansion of NATO be stopped, offensive weapons near its borders be removed and for the withdrawal of NATO military infrastructure to 1997 positions, weren't taken into account in the replies, Putin told Macron.

Putin also insisted that Kiev fulfil its obligations under the Minsk peace agreement and to the planned special status for the breakaway eastern Ukrainian territories in the Donbas, the Kremlin said.