Trump “a very flamboyant man, very talented” – Putin

The Republican candidate is “a very colourful character and talented”, Mr Putin said after concluding his three-hour annual press conference in Moscow yesterday.

“I think that we are very different”, Trump said of Putin, adding, “I think that I would at the same time get along very well with him”. “How can we not welcome that? Of course we welcome it”.

“But that doesn’t mean there are regular Russian forces there”.

Solving it is essential for ensuring political stability, Putin said, pledging “no one will cover up anyone”.

By the way, I notice that most news stories about Putin have started to distance themselves from suggesting that he called Trump “brilliant” or “outstanding”.

On Thursday, Putin went as far as to say that the Islamic State group was a “secondary issue” in Syria as it was created as “cannon fodder under Islamist slogans” to protect economic interests of other players, although he did not name Turkey.

“[These are] the most remarkable comments from Secretary of State John Kerry that I’ve ever heard in my life”, the Arizona lawmaker added.

“He should be president of the United States, that’s what he should be”, Mike Tyson told The Huffington Post. Russian Federation and Iran, however, are key backers of Assad and will likely resist any outcome that lessens their influence in Syria. Putin said he could imagine a scenario where there was a deal for Turkey to shoot down a Russian plane in return for Washington turning a blind eye to Turkish troops entering Iraq.

In a Fox Business Network debate in November, Putin again featured, and this time Trump and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush sparred over Russian actions. Some Trump fans howled at being compared with a Communist, or oligarch, or master thief, or whatever Putin is. In comments littered with crude language, Putin dismissed the possibility that the downing of the warplane over the Turkish-Syrian border last month was an accident, calling it a “hostile act”.

USA prosecutors have charged 41 entities and people including football bosses from across the Americas in a case they say involves US$200 million (NZ$296 million) in bribes and kickbacks tied to the marketing of major tournaments and matches.

On Wednesday, FSA chief of staff General Ahmad Berri also denied receiving any Russian support, but said Moscow had provided aid to fighters from the Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG).

“You’ve asked whether there was a third party to this situation. I don’t know if the Americans need this”.

In one testy moment, Putin was asked about allegations of corruption against Russia’s chief prosecutor Yury Chaika, whose sons are accused of links to organized crime as well as the severe beating of investigative journalist Oleg Kashin. Low oil costs & Western sanctions imposed over Moscow’s interference in Ukraine have hit Russia’s economy complex & driven the value of its ruble currency down.

Addressing more than 1,300 reporters in Moscow, Putin reiterated claims that Moscow is in contact with the “armed, uncompromising” opposition in Syria, with the rebels immediately shooting down the claim.