U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the Pledge to America's Workers event at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on July 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

WASHINGTON, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The White House said here Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump is open to visiting Moscow.

According to a statement released by the White House press secretary, "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."

Earlier on the same day, Russian President Vladimir Putin said he's ready to invite Trump to Moscow and is ready to visit Washington himself if conditions are right.

The White House said on Wednesday that the next meeting between Trump and Putin will be delayed till next year, citing the ongoing probe into Moscow's meddling in the 2016 U.S. elections.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Kremlin said Putin and Trump may meet on the sidelines of international events, and that no preparations were underway for a proposed summit between them in Washington.

Trump has been widely attacked after his Helsinki meeting with Putin, due to his reconciliatory remarks that many saw as a sign of siding with Moscow against the U.S. intelligence community's conclusion that Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. elections.