US President Donald Trump is willing to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to the White House, but not yet, according to remarks released by the White House on Thursday.

During a conversation aboard Air Force One flying into Paris, Trump said he was willing to engage the Russian leader despite controversy over the country's involvement in the 2016 US election.

Asked whether he would invite Putin to the White House, Trump said he would "at the right time. I don’t think this is the right time, but the answer is yes, I would."