If the US was open to normal relations with Russia, Moscow would be as well, Putin added.

“But what Trump was recently talking about, and what I heard he was talking about, his desire to do everything possible to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine. I think that he means it. Of course, we welcome the statements of this kind whoever makes them.”

As far as alleged Trump ties with Russia were concerned, Putin said investigations conducted in the US showed this to be “total rubbish”.

Putin also said he could not remember Trump threatening to strike Moscow if Russia moved into Ukraine

--Reuters--