If Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump continues his winning streak culminating in his election as the next U.S. president in November next year, he may receive his warmest congratulations not from Western leaders who have expressed their displeasure at his inflammatory remarks.
Ironically, his biggest well-wisher could turn out to be the leader of the country considered as America's biggest rival in the world stage—President Vladimir Putin of Russia.
On Thursday, Putin offered high praise for the billionaire businessman, saying "he is a bright and talented person without any doubt," CNN reported.
During his annual news conference with reporters in Moscow, Putin described Trump in glowing terms, saying he is "an outstanding and talented personality."
Speaking to ABC News earlier on Thursday, the Russian leader said Trump is "a very colourful person. Talent, without any doubt," Putin said.
"But it's not our affair to determine his worthiness—that's up to the United States," he added. "But he is absolutely the leader in the presidential race. He wants to move to a different level of relations, to more solid, deeper relations with Russia and how can Russia not welcome that—we welcome that."
The feeling between the two men appears to be mutual.
Earlier, Trump had said that he would "get along very well" with Putin. After learning of the Russian president's compliments on Thursday, Trump quickly returned the favour.
"It is always a great honour to be so nicely complimented by a man so highly respected within his own country and beyond," Trump said in a statement. "I have always felt that Russia and the United States should be able to work well with each other towards defeating terrorism and restoring world peace, not to mention trade and all of the other benefits derived from mutual respect."
Trump once called called Putin his "stable mate" since both were featured on the same episode of a recent edition of CBS' "60 Minutes."
Masha Gessen, a Russian-American journalist, said she believes the Russian president's comments are "sincere" and that Putin shares a lot in common with Trump.
"There's a really aggressive posture to both men. Putin respects fighters and he respects aggression and he doesn't respect sort of calm and deliberation," Gessen said. "He wants a manly adversary. He wants somebody he can understand."
The two men have made a mark for themselves with their blunt manners and bravado.
Trump takes pride in his straight talk, not mincing words when attacking his opponents, like describing GOP rival Ben Carson as "low-energy" touting instead the need for a "strong" leader like himself.
Putin, a former KGB agent and avid outdoorsman, has built a reputation as a masculine leader who was once photographed topless on horseback.
While most Republican presidential contenders have made known their antagonism to the Russian president—including one who called him a "gangster" and a "thug"—Trump has instead touted his ability to improve Washington-Moscow relations by working with Putin, CNN said.
While fellow GOP presidential hopefuls have criticised Russian military involvement in Syria, Trump has welcomed it.
In September, Trump said the U.S. should avoid deepening its involvement in Syria and allow Russia instead to take a leading role in combating Islamic radicals and terrorists threatening to attack the U.S.
"Russia wants to get rid of ISIS. We want to get rid of ISIS. Maybe let Russia do it. Let them get rid of ISIS. What the hell do we care?" Trump said.
In October, Trump said if he wins the White House, he would "get along very well" with Putin. "He [Putin] does not like Obama at all. He doesn't respect Obama at all. And I'm sure that Obama doesn't like him very much," Trump said then. "But I think that I would probably get along with him very well. And I don't think you'd be having the kind of problems that you're having right now."
