Russian leader Vladimir Putin congratulated Donald Trump on his accession to the presidency of the United States and said that he is ready for dialogue on the war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine.

As reported Ukrainian truth, Putin said this at a meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, RIA Novosti reports on social networks.

“Moscow congratulates Trump on taking office... Moscow is open to dialogue with the new US administration on the Ukrainian conflict,” Putin said at the Radbez meeting.

According to the publication, Putin stressed that the goal should be “not a short truce, but a long-term peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all peoples living in this region.”

“Russia assumes that the dialogue with the United States will be built on an equal and mutually respectful basis,” Putin said.

Putin also claims that “Russia has never refused to dialogue with any US administration.”

He said he welcomed Trump's words about the need to do everything to prevent World War III. But at the same time, Putin stressed that the Russian authorities will continue to “fight for the interests of their people.”

As CNN reported, citing its own sources, the newly elected US President Donald Trump instructed his aides to organize a call to Putin in the coming days after the inauguration, which will take place on January 20.