The White House on Friday said US President Donald Trump was open to a controversial visit to Moscow, after an apparent invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"(Trump) has a desire to conduct meetings in the future and I am ready," Putin said, extending the invitation and reiterating his desire to go to Washington.
The White House responded with a statement saying "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."
A summit last week between the pair in Helsinki caused Trump serious domestic problems, with the US president accused of appeasing a man who allegedly tried to tilt the 2016 US presidential election.
Even Trump's Republican allies joined in the criticism of the Helsinki sit-down. Senator John McCain accused Trump of "naivete, egotism, false equivalence, and sympathy for autocrats."
A US special counsel is currently investigating whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russian spies to manipulate the vote.
Trump denies there was any collusion.
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