President Vladimir Putin says Russia will work with whoever is elected the new US president.

Putin earlier on Friday dodged the question of whether he would prefer Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton as the new commander-in-chief.

He said Moscow is unfazed by the often anti-Russia 'campaign rhetoric' and will judge the new president 'by their deeds, not by their words'.

Putin said he would 'seek ways' to restore ties that were dampened by Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in March 2014 and its support to separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine.

He made the remarks while speaking at a meeting with the leaders of major news agencies.

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Putin said he would 'seek ways' to restore ties that were dampened by Russia's annexation of the Crimean peninsula in March 2014 and its support to separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine

Also on Friday, CNN journalist Fareed Zakaria was filmed talking to Putin at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Zakaria said: 'You made some comments about the American Republican presumptive nominee Donald Trump.

'You called him "brilliant", "outstanding", "talented". These comments were reported around the world. I was wondering what in him led you to that judgement, and do you still hold that judgement?'

In his answer, Putin said: 'Why do you always change the meaning of what I said? Because at the moment you speak as a journalist, not as an analyst. Why are you juggling with what I said?'

'I only said that he is a bright person. Isn't he bright? He is. He's - I did not say anything else about him.

'But there's one thing that I paid attention to, and that I definitely welcome, is that Mr Trump said that he's ready to restore full-fledged Russian-American relations.

'What can be bad about it? Don't you welcome it? We all welcome it.'

The word 'brilliant' had come from a translation from Interfax, according to Zakaria.

Putin told Fareed Zakaria, referring to Donald Trump: 'I only said that he is a bright person. Isn't he bright? He is. He's - I did not say anything else about him'. Trump is pictured in Texas on Friday

Asked about his view of Hillary Clinton, Putin dodged direct comment, but spoke highly of Bill Clinton, saying he was grateful to him for his help

Asked about his view of Hillary Clinton, Putin dodged direct comment, but spoke highly of Bill Clinton, saying he was grateful to him for his help.

He was quoted by the Wall Street Journal saying Friday: 'We had a very nice relationship.