Putin's comments show a sharp change in the Kremlin's stance back in November when they refused to congratulate Trump on his victory, stating the US being "unfriendly" to Russia as the reason.

Quoting Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, Russian News Agency TASS noted, "In case [Trump's] political will to resume high-level contacts after he takes office persists, then, of course, President Putin will only welcome this,

President-elect Donald Trump said a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin is being set up, raising the prospect that the incoming US leader could push to start negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.