"Putin is very smart... kept his word on all the deals we made" - Bill Clinton in 2013

5 hours ago

Bill Clinton once offered rare praise to Putin, giving the Russian leader positive praise back in 2013. The information comes from an article was published in 2013. It said:

"Mr. Putin … he's very smart," Clinton said in an interview with CNN talk show host Piers Morgan. "And, remarkably, we had a good, blunt relationship." Asked to describe just how blunt that relationship was, Clinton replied, "Brutally blunt," indicating he preferred this level of frankness in private conversations.

Putin took over as acting Russian president on Jan. 1, 2000, following the surprise New Year's Eve resignation of the late Russian leader Boris Yelstin, and was formally elected for his first term two months later. Clinton, who left office in January 2001, worked with him as head of state for a year.

Asked if Putin ever reneged on a promise, Clinton was categorical: "He did not."

"He kept his word on all the deals we made," Clinton said.