No, I don’t trust Putin at all and he is most definitely NOT our friend. However, I do respect him on one sense. He is keenly aware of the national interests of his country and seeks to promote them at every opportunity.
And I cannot say that about our president.
Putin is indeed a firm and resolute leader, but make no mistake, he is an abject power-monger and tyrant-wanna-be. That, and his own indulgences are his interests.