Putin says he invited Trump to Russia and is 'ready to go' to Washington: Reports

The Russian president was speaking at a summit in South Africa.

July 27, 2018, 11:22 AM

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he had invited President Donald Trump to Moscow and that he would be willing to visit the United States if "relevant conditions" were met, according to Russian media.

"I understand very well that President Trump has a wish to have further meetings," Putin said, according to Russian news agency Interfax. "And I am ready for that. But relevant conditions are needed" in both countries, he said at a press conference in Johannesburg.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a joint news conference after their meeting in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018.
President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin shake hands during a joint news conference after their meeting in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Putin also said he was ready to host Trump in Russia, Interfax and Russian state news agency TASS reported.

“We are ready to invite Trump to Moscow, he by the way has such invitation, I have told him about that," Putin said, according to TASS. "And I am ready to go to Washington, if relevant conditions for work will be created there."

PHOTO: Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a press conference at the 10th BRICS summit (acronym for the grouping of the world's leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) on July 27, 2018 in Johannesburg.
Russian President Vladimir Putin holds a press conference at the end of the 10th BRICS summit (acronym for the grouping of the world's leading emerging economies, namely Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) on July 27, 2018 in Johannesburg.
AFP/Getty Images

It was unclear if Putin's overture was a formal invitation to Trump. Putin was speaking following a BRICS emerging economies summit in South Africa.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement Friday that Putin would come to Washington next year. A previous invitation for a summit with Putin this fall was delayed by the administration.

Sanders also said Trump was open to visiting Russia.

PHOTO: President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018 prior to Trump's and Putin's one-on-one meeting in the Finnish capital.
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018 prior to Trump's and Putin's one-on-one meeting in the Finnish capital.
Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

“President Trump looks forward to having President Putin to Washington after the first of the year, and he is open to visiting Moscow upon receiving a formal invitation," she said in a statement.

ABC News's Jordyn Phelps contributed reporting from Washington.

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