Russian President Vladimir Putin says the U.S. will have to offer North Korea solid security guarantees if it wants to strike a denuclearization deal.

Putin, speaking in an interview with a Chinese state broadcaster aired Wednesday, said he hopes that next week's meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will bring positive results.

He praised Trump for a "courageous and mature" decision to meet with Kim, but noted that Pyongyang would want "absolute security guarantees" to abandon its nuclear bid after watching wars in Iraq and Libya. He also voiced regret that the U.S. and South Korea failed to stop their military maneuvers.

Putin said Russia's offer to develop joint railway and gas pipeline projects involving both Koreas would help stability in the region.