Russian President Vladimir Putin's approval rating has jumped among Americans over the last two years – even as Russia intervened militarily in Syria and clashed with U.S. policy goals.

The jump – which includes a 20-percentage point spike among Republicans, coincides with President Donald Trump's repeated praise of the leader during the presidential campaign.

Putin's improvement is revealed in a new Gallup survey, CBS reported.

Putin's favorability reached 32 per cent among Republicans, and 23 per cent among independents, who approved of him by just 12 per cent in 2015.

His rating has actually gone down among Democrats, with 10 per cent viewing him favorably compared to 15 per cent in 2015.

HERE'S TO YOU: Russian President Vladimir Putin takes a glass of champagne during the reception for new foreign ambassadors at Grand Kremlin Palace on November 9, 2016 in Moscow, Russia

Prominent Democrats have hammered Putin on the airwaves for what the U.S. intelligence community believes is Kremlin-directed hacking in the elections.

The hacks targeted the Democratic National Committee and John Podesta, a top campaign aide to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. The Obama administration imposed sanctions on Russia following Russia's invasion of Crimea.

The overall U.S. view of Putin haven't experienced too much of a thaw, with his unfavorable rating at 72 per cent.

The latest poll found that 32 percent of Republicans view Putin favorably, 20 percentage points higher than 2015. Twenty-three percent of independents now view Putin favorably compared to 12 percent in 2015. Meanwhile, Democrats’ opinion of Putin has diminished in the last two years with 10 percent now viewing him favorably, down from 15 percent in 2015.

When Gallup first asked about Putin back in 2002, his approval stood at 41 per cent. In 2001, President George W. Bush famously said he was able to look into Putin's soul.

'I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy,' Bush said at the time. 'I was able to get a sense of his soul.'

Since then, Putin has repeatedly been at odds with U.S. policy makers. Russia remains under U.S. and international sanctions for it's invasion of Ukraine in 2014, an operation that began with Russian forces who wore no insignia on their uniforms.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's U.S. approval rating, by party

Russia's President Vladimir Putin walks in before delivering his annual state of the nation address at the Kremlin in Moscow, December 12, 2013

President Donald Trump (C) walks away after naming US Army Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster (L) as his national security adviser and Keith Kellogg (R) as McMaster's chief of staff. at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump repeatedly praised Putin during the presidential campaign

Overall, 61 per cent of Americans consider Russia to be unfriendly or not an ally to the U.S., according to an NBC/Survey Monkey poll. Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) listens to Sberbank CEO and Board Chairman German Gref at a Moscow Kremlin meeting

Another new poll, by NBC/Survey Monkey, confirmed a party split on Russia.

Overall, 61 per cent of Americans consider Russia to be unfriendly or not an ally to the U.S.

But Republicans are split nearly evenly, 50-49 per cent, on whether Russia is friendly/an ally, versus unfriendly/not an ally.

Among Democrats, just 23 per cent consider Russia an ally or friendly, compared to 75 percent who consider it unfriendly or an enemy.

Trump has said repeatedly it would be a 'good thing' if the U.S could establish better relations with Russia, and frequently praises Russian President Vladimir Putin

The U.S. intelligence community concluded that Russia hacked Democratic groups and figures during the elections.

Putin's approval rating in the U.S. has a long way to go to matching his ratings in Russia, which features state-controlled media.

It hit 83 per cent in 2016, and has been high ever since the invasion of Crimea, which prompted concern in the U.S. and among its western allies.