© Mikhail Metzel/POOL/TASS
* Russian President Vladimir Putin said he wanted to 'immediately launch negotiations' with the U.S. and NATO in order to guarantee security of Russia
* Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping will discuss tensions in Europe during video call on Wednesday
* Moscow staged ground battle exercises involving 1,000 tank troops at Kadamovsky firing range in Rostov region, just 30 miles from Ukraine
* US intelligence estimates as many as 175,000 Russian troops could launch attack on Ukraine early next year
Russian President Vladimir Putin today called for 'immediate' talks with NATO and the U.S. over security guarantees for Moscow as tensions mount over Ukraine.
Putin told Finnish President Sauli Niinisto that he wanted to 'immediately launch negotiations' with the U.S. and NATO in order to 'develop international legal guarantees for the security of the country,' the Kremlin said in a readout of the call.
The Kremlin said Russia's demands included stopping NATO from expanding east and the deployment of weapons in neighbouring states, including Ukraine.
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Update #1: Putin Reiterates Need For 'Immediate' Talks With NATO On Security Guarantees -- RFE
Update #2: Putin wants 'immediate' talks with NATO on Russia's security -- AFP
WNU Editor: Putin is not going to get what he wants.