MOSCOW: Russian President Vladimir Putin met with visiting French President Emmanuel Macron to address the Ukraine conflict as well as Europe's security concerns. Putin remarked during a joint press conference with Macron after their hours-long talks in the Kremlin on Monday that the meeting was businesslike and beneficial, according to Xinhua news agency.

The US and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) have neglected Russia's main security concerns, while the military alliance tries to lecture Russia on where and how to station its armed forces, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

He informed French President Emmanuel Macron that Kiev is refusing to abide by the 2015 Minsk agreements on a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian conflict and is even attempting to demolish them. Russia's objection to NATO's eastward expansion was repeated by Putin.

During the briefing, Macron stated that he believes there is still time for Europe to find a peaceful route, where new institutions are needed to assure security while current pacts are protected. He stated that a political solution to the Ukrainian problem is the only option, and that the Minsk agreements remain the foundation. In response to Moscow's proposed security assurances between Russia and the US-led NATO, Macron stated that talks should continue, despite the fact that reaching an agreement will be difficult.

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