KYIV, Ukraine—President Vladimir Putin of Russia talked about the U.S. and its European allies had “assuredly no longer critical” Moscow’s demands for security assurances nonetheless expressed a willingness to proceed talks as Russian troops maneuvered shut to Ukraine’s borders and Kyiv rushed to bolster its defenses.
“We didn’t search an passable response to our key concerns,” Mr. Putin suggested journalists Tuesday at a Kremlin press convention at which he again castigated the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for what he has portrayed as a continual eastward push that threatens Moscow.
