MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that he is ready to hold discussions with US President-elect Donald Trump, and congratulated Trump on winning the US presidential election.

When answering a question about whether he is ready to talk with Trump at the plenary session of the Russian think tank Valdai's annual meeting, the Russian leader said: "ready".

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"I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his election as president of the United States," Putin said, adding that Russia will work with any head of state who the American people trust.