Russian President Vladimir Putin says he's ready to meet with his US counterpart at the G20 summit in Japan next week. He's also warning the US against starting a conflict with Iran. He made the comments in his annual phone-in television show, in which Russians can call and ask him questions ranging from local to international topics. CGTN's Dan Ashby has more.  

Russian President Vladimir Putin's live phone-in broadcast is all about the audience - but this year there were plenty of messages for those outside the country, too. And one big one for U.S. President Donald Trump.

VLADIMIR PUTIN RUSSIAN PRESIDENT "Dialogue is always good, there's always demand for it. Sure, if the U.S. side shows an interest towards it, we are ready for a dialogue, as far as our U.S. partners are ready for it. We have things to talk about regarding international security: I mean disarmament. The Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty is expiring soon. But I also mean establishing normal relations between the countries."

Putin's comments raise the chances he and Trump will meet in Japan at the G20 next week. But Putin took a tough stand on the subject of U.S. and Iran - saying a conflict must be avoided.

VLADIMIR PUTIN RUSSIAN PRESIDENT "I want to say it would be a catastrophe for the region at least. It would lead to an influx of violence and possible to an increase of flow of refugees from the region."

It's a sensitive time in East-West relations. Three Russians are facing murder charges in the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, killing all 298 people aboard in 2014. After the broadcast, speaking to journalists, Putin denied that Russia was involved. Nevertheless, one analyst says Putin is trying to show he is peace-loving.

MARIA LIPMAN RUSSIAN POLITICAL EXPERT "I think savvy, wise, not confrontational, and well wishing. He wanted to come across as sounding conciliatory and peace loving - blaming the hostility on the other side, on the West."

Critics of his phone-in say it is a stage-managed event - with any criticism of Putin filtered out. It did, though, reveal how he thinks he can improve Russia's place in the world. But turning that into reality - might be his hardest call of all.

DAN ASHBY MOSCOW "President Putin says he wants to meet with President Trump and repair relations with the West. But on all the big issues: MH17, Iran, Venezuela and so many more, Russia continues to be at odds with the US. So although another meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin just got a step closer - their positions on the world's most important problems are still gulfs apart. Dan Ashby, CGTN, Moscow."