Russian President Vladimir Putin said his country does not want war and that he is seeking to negotiate a peaceful solution to the crisis in Ukraine.

Putin made the remarks on Tuesday after a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Moscow.

Tens of thousands of Russian troops have amassed along the border with Ukraine and have been conducting military drills with their allies in Belarus. Western leaders and NATO have warned that Russia may be planning to invade.

However, Putin said he has offered proposals to start the negotiating process. He said talks should lead to an agreement to provide equal security for everybody. He added that he's committed to continuing dialogue.

At the same time, he repeated his demands that NATO should never admit Ukraine as a member. He also stressed that US and NATO leaders have not done enough to address Russia's security concerns.

Officials at the Kremlin have raised hopes for a de-escalation. A spokesperson for the defense ministry confirmed that Russian troops near the border with eastern Ukraine will begin a withdrawal.

However, he added that live-fire drills will be held on Saturday and naval drills are being held in important waters adjacent to Russia's territory.