Russia demands security guarantees from NATO.
For example, they want to exclude further NATO enlargement and ban Ukraine from joining the military alliance.
President Putin has expressed his disappointment at the West's inability to understand Russia's concerns about NATO enlargement.
"The response from the United States and NATO has not included fundamental Russian concerns.
"It has not been taken into account that Russia does not want to see an enlarged NATO or that attack weapons are placed near Russia's borders," Putin said, according to a statement from the Kremlin.
Violates international law
The demands are contrary to international law and are unacceptable, according to Sweden's Minister of Detention.
Russia knows that NATO will not agree to the demands, says SVT's foreign reporter Carl Fridh Kleberg, who is on site in Ukraine's capital Kiev.
- At the same time, they have had the troop gathering at the border for such a long time that it is very difficult, if not impossible, for Russia to back down without getting something they want in return, he says.
Sticks in the eyes
NATO countries and the United States have indicated that they can meet Russia in part, according to Carl Fridh Kleberg.
- Even if it stands out in the eyes of some who believe that it would reward Russia's bad behavior, he adds.
An example of something Russia wants, and perhaps can get, is a restriction on the number of Western soldiers and weapons in Europe, says the foreign reporter.