Putin: Trump is 'absolute leader' of U.S. presidential race

David Jackson | USA TODAY

Donald Trump's presidential campaign is getting good reviews from a world leader: Vladimir Putin.

"He is a very outstanding man, unquestionably talented," the Russian president told reporters Thursday in Moscow.

Putin shrugged off criticism of some of Trump's proposals — such as barring the entry of Muslims into the United States — as well as attacks the Republican front-runner has lobbed at the Russian leader.

"It's not up to us to judge his virtue, that is up to U.S. voters," Putin said. "But he is the absolute leader of the presidential race."

Both Trump and Putin have said they could get along with each other if necessary.

"He (Trump) says that he wants a different level of relations, tighter and deeper relations with Russia," Putin said. "How can we not welcome that? Of course we welcome it."