Putin coy about extending his rule in Russia beyond 2024

• Russian President Vladimir Putin has skirted a question about a possibility that he could stay at the helm beyond 2024.
• "I do not comment on speculation," Putin told Austrian journalist Armin Wolf when asked about a possible referendum that could keep the Russian president in power for life.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has skirted a question about a possibility that he could stay at the helm beyond 2024.

"I do not comment on speculation," Putin told Austrian journalist Armin Wolf when asked about a possible referendum that could keep the Russian president in power for life. "I think it is beneath the President of the Russian Federation."

The 65-year-old Putin was inaugurated last month for another six-year term. He already is Russia's longest-serving leader since Josef Stalin.

"After this presidential term, will you leave politics or stay in power as Prime Minister?" Wolf asked Putin.

"Which would you prefer?" Putin asked in response, to which Wolf said, "I am interested in what you prefer."

"I have never violated the Constitution of my country and I am not going to," Putin said. "A lot depends on the kind of job we do (and by "we" I mean myself and my team) and what results we can achieve. But you are right, I have been in public administration, government service, for quite a long time and I need to make a decision on what I am going to do when the current term ends."

Putin served two four-year presidential terms in 2000-2008 before shifting into the prime minister's seat to observe a limit of two consecutive presidential terms while his longtime ally Dmitry Medvedev was elected president. Putin reclaimed the presidency in 2012 after the presidential term was extended to six years under Medvedev's tenure.