Russia's core concerns on security were ignored by the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), while the military alliance attempts to lecture Russia on where and how to place its armed forces, Russian President Vladimir Putin told visiting French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday during a "businesslike and useful" meeting.

Kyiv refuses to comply with the 2015 Minsk agreements on a peaceful settlement of the Ukrainian issue and even aims to dismantle the deals, Putin said, reiterating Russia's opposition to NATO's eastwards expansion. 

During the meeting, Macron said he believes there is still an opportunity to find a peaceful path for Europe, where new mechanisms are needed to ensure security, and existing pacts should be preserved at the same time.

"This discussion can make a start in the direction in which we need to go, which is towards a de-escalation," Macron said, calling for "an answer that is useful for both Russia and for all the rest of Europe."

There is no alternative to a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis and the Minsk agreements remain the basis of it, he said.

The coming days will be crucial in the Ukraine standoff, he added.

The two leaders are due to speak again after Macron meets with Ukraine's leadership on Tuesday.

In Washington, U.S. President Joe Biden, hosting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said there was still a diplomatic off-ramp to resolve the crisis, stressing the United States and Europe's biggest economy were "in lockstep."

(With input from agencies)