The US and Nato have said there is no evidence Russia has moved its forces back from the Ukrainian border despite a claim by Vladimir Putin that it has.
President Putin said Russia forces are "not on the Ukrainian border."
He said earlier: "We're always being told that our forces on the Ukrainian border are a concern. We have withdrawn them.
"They are in places where they conduct their regular tasks on training grounds."
The White House and the Pentagon said there was no indication Russia had moved its troops.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest also demanded that Russia go further than merely calling for a planned referendum on independence for eastern Ukraine to be postponed.
Mr Putin had called on separatists in east Ukraine to delay a poll in the mostly Russian-speaking region until after Sunday.
Mr Earnest said President Barack Obama believed the referendum should be cancelled, not just postponed.
Several towns and cities in east Ukraine have come under the control of separatists, who are seeking independence from Kiev.
Ukrainian forces outside the rebel held stronghold of Slavyansk They had been due to vote on whether to leave the rest of Ukraine on May 11, in a referendum that was not supported by Kiev or the West.
Up to 40,000 Russian troops, complete with heavy armour and fighter planes, have been massing on the Ukrainian border.
Mr Putin's comments were made after talks with the head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), who said a "road map" would soon be put forward to defuse the Ukraine crisis.
One of the separatist leaders said they would consider the Russian leader's call to postpone the referendum.
But Sky's Katie Stallard, who is in Donetsk, said there were doubts about whether Mr Putin had been completely frank when making his statements.
He said: "Taken at face value this is a real about turn. There are a couple of reasons to be sceptical.
"First, Russia did sign up to the Geneva accord ... all of which had zero effect. Second there are real logistical issues with whether they would be able to hold that referendum ... so it may be rather convenient if they were to postpone (it).
"The third reason to bear in mind when you hear Mr Putin speak is, all the way through the situation in Crimea, he denied any Russian troops were involved. It was only after the event that he admitted that there were.
A flag burns outside Mariupol city hall, which is back under rebel control "I think you have to … believe when you see it."
Meanwhile, European Union governments pressed ahead with plans to target Russian people and companies as away of putting pressure on the Kremlin.
Foreign Secretary William Hague, who is holding talks in Kiev with the country's leaders, told Sky News the rebels' referendum was an attempt to "disrupt" national elections that are being held in Ukraine on May 25.
Nato's top military commander said earlier it may deploy troops permanently in parts of Eastern Europe due to the increased tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces withdrew from Mariupol city hall after a night of heavy fighting saw them recapture the rebel-held building.
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