US President Joe Biden says he is "prepared to speak with" Russia's President Vladimir Putin if he is looking for a way to end the war in Ukraine.

Biden made the comment at a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday after their talks in Washington.

Biden said Putin is inflicting "incredible carnage" on the civilian population in Ukraine by bombing nurseries, hospitals and other facilities. He added, "It's sick what he is doing."

Biden said that in consultation with other NATO members, he would be "happy to sit down with Putin to see what he ... has in mind."

But Biden said Putin has not shown an interest yet, suggesting there is no prospect of talks being held in the near future.