Vladimir Putin would be happy to hold talks with Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Mr Scholz finally caved into intense pressure last week, as he agreed to transfer Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
The decision was met by fury from the Kremlin, which unleashed a new barrage of missile strikes on Ukrainian cities the day after the announcement.
However, the Russian President would be prepared to pick up the phone and talk to his German counterpart.
Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesman, told reporters on Sunday: “For now, there are no agreed talks (with Scholz) in the schedule.
“Putin has been and remains open to contacts.”
Scholz reciprocated the gesture, telling the Berlin Tagesspiegel: “I will also speak to Putin again because it is necessary to speak.”
However, he stressed that Putin must withdraw his troops from Ukraine and put an end to the “horrendous, senseless war”.