
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised former President Donald Trump during an interview with NBC News.
"Well even now, I believe that former U.S. president Mr. Trump is an extraordinary individual, talented individual, otherwise he would not have become U.S. president," Putin told NBC's Keir Simmons.
"He is a colorful individual. You may like him or not. And, but he didn't come from the U.S. establishment. He had not been part of big-time politics before, and some like it, some don't like it but that is a fact," Putin argued.
Putin also sized up Joe Biden, who will be the fifth U.S. president he has met.
"That's a different kind of person, and it is my great hope that, yes, there are some advantages, some disadvantages, but there will not be any impulse-based movements on behalf of the sitting U.S. president," Putin said.
WATCH: In an exclusive interview, @KeirSimmons presses Russian President Vladimir Putin on accusations that he has… https://t.co/Ig6v3BiMQL— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt) 1623458431.0