Alexei Nikolsky/RIA-Novosti, Kremlin Pool Photo / AP
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting in the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Friday, Nov. 6, 2015.
Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015 | 8:02 a.m.
Businessman Donald Trump listens to a question from a reporter in the spin room after the CNN Republican Presidential Debate on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015, at the Venetian.
MOSCOW — It wasn't quite an endorsement, but Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised Donald Trump's talents and lauded his calls for better ties with Russia.
Speaking to journalists after his annual news conference on Thursday, Putin called Trump an "absolute front-runner" in the presidential race and a "bright and talented person." He added that he "certainly welcomes" Trump's calls for better U.S.-Russia ties.
Putin had said earlier he was ready to work with the eventual winner in the presidential race. And Trump has said he could work with the Russian leader.
"I think that I would probably get along with him very well," Trump said of Putin in an October interview with CNN. "And I don't think you'd be having the kind of problems that you're having right now."
Join the Discussion:
Check this out for a full explanation of our conversion to the LiveFyre commenting system and instructions on how to sign up for an account.
Full comments policy