Russia wants to avoid conflict with Ukraine and the West, President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday, adding that Russia received a generally positive response to security proposals it handed to the U.S. this month and that negotiations would start early next year.

Meanwhile, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said U.S. President Joe Biden has yet to agree to a time and place for the talks with Putin.

Psaki also refuted criticism leveled by Putin that the U.S. and its allies have been the aggressor in the Russia-Ukraine border escalation.

"Well facts are a funny thing and facts make clear that the only aggression we're seeing at the border of Russia and Ukraine is the military buildup by the Russians and the bellicose rhetoric by the leader of Russia," Psaki said.

Russia rejects Ukrainian and U.S. accusations that it may be preparing an invasion of Ukraine as early as next month by tens of thousands of Russian troops poised within reach of the border.

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