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Russia will support a new global climate deal only if all major industrial countries sign up to it and if the capacity of Russia''s giant forests is taken into account, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Monday.

The United Nations has been pushing for world powers to clinch a deal to replace the Kyoto protocol at a climate change summit next month in Copenhagen, but Russia''s leaders have given few hints on where Moscow stands.

Asked whether Russia was ready to support Danish efforts to secure a global deal, Putin said: "Yes, we are ready to do this."

Speaking after talks in Moscow with Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, he said two conditions must be met for Russia''s support.

"All countries, especially those with the biggest emissions - the world''s major economies - must sign this document without exception, otherwise it loses any logic," Putin said.

He added Moscow "will insist that the ability of Russia''s forests to absorb carbon dioxide be taken into account".

Russia has the largest forests in the world and it says they help offset carbon dioxide emissions by other countries and should be taken into account when setting targets under a new deal.