Now, Vladimir Putin invites Trump to Washington

Johannesburg, July 28: Days after US President Donald Trump invited his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to visit Washington following the controversial Helsinki summit between two leaders on July 16, the latter said on Friday, July 27, that he is ready to visit to US and also reciprocated by inviting Trump to Moscow.

The Russian leader, however, added that there "has to be necessary conditions".

Speaking at the BRICS summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, Putin said Russia is ready for such meetings and also ready to invite Trump to Moscow.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement that the American president is "open to visiting Moscow" but added that he was yet to receive a formal invite from Putin.

"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," Sanders said in a statement on Friday.

Trump had earlier backtracked after inviting Putin to Washington later this year for he felt his next bilateral meeting with Putin should happen only after the "Russia witch hunt" gets over, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said on Wednesday, July 25.

President Trump has been accused of maintaining links with Russia ahead of the 2016 presidential election in the US while the Kremlin has been held accused of interfering in US elections.