Trajkovski thanked Russia for its approach

The Kremlin rejects the ethnic Albanians' assertions that civil rights issues lie behind the conflict.

Russian policy was welcomed by Macedonia's President Trajkovski, who publicly thanked Russia for its approach.

Officially, Russia backs Nato's operation Essential Harvest to collect weapons from the rebels.

Kremlin warning

But the Kremlin warns that disarming the rebels may take many years, a far cry from Nato's up-beat assessments of its chances of success.

Mr Putin's own view is more pessimistic. He says he does not believe the rebels will surrender their weaponry voluntarily.

And he repeated Russia's view that Nato should not become involved in military action against the rebels without the approval of the UN Security Council.

Russia links the bombing campaign Nato conducted against Yugoslavia two years ago with Macedonia's fraught security situation.

The Macedonian leadership believes that Nato's presence in Kosovo has done little to curb ethnic Albanian separatists. That view is backed by Moscow, where officials say Nato's intervention spurred on militants committed to building a greater Albania.