Editor’s Note: Jill Dougherty is currently a CNN contributor. She is a former CNN foreign affairs correspondent and Moscow bureau chief with expertise in Russia and the former Soviet Union. She is currently a member of the Advisory Council of the Woodrow Wilson Center’s Kennan Institute.
Just how tight are Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin? It’s a question many are asking following the damaging release of leaked Democrat National Committee emails this week – and after Trump called for Russia to hack Hillary Clinton’s emails on Wednesday.
The hacking of the DNC – an unwelcome distraction for Democrats – is suspected to be the work of Russian intelligence.
The Kremlin has denied any involvement, and Trump has laughed off the allegation that it was done to help his candidacy.
But that doesn’t mean Trump and Putin don’t see eye-to-eye on a number of issues. Here’s what Trump has said about Putin and Russia in the past couple of years – and how the Republican nominee’s quotes fit with Putin’s strategic vision of the world.
U.S. official: “Little doubt” Russia behind DNC hack
On ISIS
On NATO
On the Democratic National Committee hack
On U.S. foreign policy
On Ukraine
On Edward Snowden
On respect
How reliable is Levada Center polling?
And friendship
CNN’s Nick Thompson and Sheena McKenzie contributed to this story.