Donald Trump has distanced himself from Vladimir Putin after Hillary Clinton claimed Mr Trump would become a puppet of the Russian President if he wins the US presidency.

In the third and final debate of the US presidential election, things got heated when the pair debated foreign policy and the merits or otherwise of relations with Russia.

Ms Clinton alleged Russia had tried to influence the election and hit out at Mr Trump for failing to acknowledge that influence.

“I think that this is such an unprecedented situation,” she said.

“We’ve never had a foreign government trying to interfere in our election. I find that deeply disturbing.

“The Russian government has engaged in espionage against Americans,” Ms Clinton said.

“Then they have given that information to Wikileaks for the purpose of putting it on the internet.

“It’s pretty clear that Vladimir Putin would rather have a puppet in the White House than a president,” she said.

Mr Trump wasted no time in firing back.

“You’re the puppet,” Mr Trump said.

Trump: “I don’t know Putin. He’s said nice things about me, if we got along well, that would be good.” #DebateNight #Decision2016 pic.twitter.com/AtRTbjIUaZ

— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 20, 2016

“I don’t know Putin. I never met Putin. This is not my best friend.”

“She doesn’t like Putin because Putin has outsmarted her at every step of the way,” he said.

“She has been outsmarted and outplayed worse than anyone I have ever seen… and she always will be.”

Mr Trump had another shot at Ms Clinton saying she was “playing chicken” with nuclear deterrence.

“We are a country with tremendous amount of nuclear warheads, 1800, by the way, they (Russia) expanded and we didn’t, and she is playing chicken.”

"Vladimir Putin…isn't my best friend." —Donald Trump #DebateNight https://t.co/sMlHIuxvYx

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) October 20, 2016