Vladimir Putin has given the Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump a ringing endorsement, reciprocating Trump's praise for Russia.

"He is a very bright and talented man, no doubt about that," said Putin, speaking after his annual press conference in Moscow on Thursday. "He is the absolute leader of the presidential race, as we see it today. He says that he wants to move to another level of relations, to a deeper level of relations with Russia. How can we not welcome that? Of course we welcome it."

Earlier, during a question and answer session, the Russian president was asked what he thought about the US presidential race, and said he was ready to work with whomever the American people chose.