US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has backed off from praising Vladimir Putin, saying he was unsure of his relationship with the Russian president, whom he has described as a better leader than President Barack Obama.
On Wednesday, just one day after his running mate Mike Pence appeared to break ranks during a vice presidential debate and called Putin "a small and bullying leader", Trump adjusted his own previously warm rhetoric towards the Russian leader.
"I don't love [Putin], I don't hate. We'll see how it works. We'll see," Trump told supporters during a campaign stop in the swing state of Nevada.
"Maybe we'll have a good relationship. Maybe we'll have a horrible relationship. Maybe we'll have a relationship right in the middle."
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has appealed to anti-Russian sentiments in the US by criticising Trump, who often praises Putin, as being too cosy with the Kremlin leader and questioned the Republican's business interests in Russia.
Those charges were repeated by her vice presidential candidate Tim Kaine during a debate with Pence on Tuesday.
In response, Pence denounced Putin for his interference in Syria's civil war and support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
"The small and bullying leader of Russia is now dictating terms to the United States," Pence said.
"The greatest nation on earth just withdraws from talks about a ceasefire, while Vladimir Putin puts a missile defence system in Syria."
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