We must boldly work out new ideas and create a solid alliance against the common enemy

Lord Robertson

He said the proposal, currently being studied by Nato, implied giving Russia a right of veto over some Nato decisions.

Referring to the common threat of terrorism, Mr Putin praised the quick tempo of discussions to transform a decades-old rivalry into partnership.

"Not much time has passed since we met on 3 October in Brussels, but the dialogue between Nato and Russia is developing dynamically," he said.

Lord Robertson replied: "We must boldly work out new ideas and create a solid alliance against the common enemy".

Relations have changed since 11 September

On Wednesday, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov said that Moscow was seeking equal status and the "right to a voice" within the Atlantic alliance.

The BBC's Steve Rosenberg in Moscow says that in the past all talk of Nato expansion eastwards has been met with fierce words and veiled threats, but the rhetoric has changed rapidly in recent weeks.

On Thursday, Lord Robertson visited the southern city of Volgograd, formerly Stalingrad, to lay a wreath at a World War II memorial.

About one million Soviet soldiers and civilians lost their lives in a gruelling, 200-day battle against Nazi forces at Stalingrad in 1942-1943 that marked a turning point in the war.