Vladimir Putin suggests dialogue is still possible on Ukraine crisis

Russian president signals prospect of talks with west as military buildup leaves world guessing about possible invasion

Vladimir Putin has suggested it is still not too late for dialogue over Ukraine, as the world continues to be left guessing whether the Russian president is on the brink of invading his neighbour, or whether his military buildup is a negotiating ploy.

In a meeting in the Kremlin, the foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, told Putin he believed there was still room for dialogue on Russian requests for a new security deal with the west, which have been made as Russia amassed 140,000 troops around Ukraine's borders in recent weeks.