[MV=PY]

Didn’t Bush say he saw into Putin’s soul and knew he was a good man (or some such hoopla)?

[Olog-hai]

… I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy.

We had a very good dialogue. I was able to get a sense of his soul, a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country. And I appreciated so very much the frank dialogue. There was no kind of diplomatic chit chat, trying to throw each other off balance.

There was a straightforward dialogue, and that’s the beginning of a very constructive relationship. I wouldn’t have invited him to my ranch if I didn’t trust him. …

From the 2001 press conference. This was in response to a rhetorical question by Putin himself, to wit “Can we trust Russia?”