Putin to ‘normalize’ ties with US, Trump

Following the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in Lima, Peru, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was ready to mend ties with the United States and US President-elect Donald Trump.

"The President-elect confirmed he is willing to normalize Russian-American relations. I told him the same," Putin said.

Putin said a date and location to meet with Trump was not discussed. Putin and Trump share a strong relationship, with Trump praising the Russian president throughout his successful presidential campaign. Russia supported Trump during the presidential election in the United States.

Putin also thanked current US President Barack Obama "for the years of joint work." "I told him that we would be happy to see him (Obama) in Russia anytime if he wants, can and has desire," Putin said.

Looking ahead, Putin said Russia is ready to freeze its oil output at their current level, adding that Russian oil firms were ready to do so ahead of a freeze pact that OPEC nations are expected to agree to with non-OPEC countries on November 30. "We will do everything that our partners from OPEC are expecting. To freeze crude production is not an issue for us," Putin said.

kbd/bw (AP, Reuters)