Misha Japaridze/AP Photo

MOSCOW - A recent survey by Russia's state-owned pollster found 9% of respondents believed the world will end on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012, in accordance with the end of the ancient Mayan calendar.

There's one Russian, however, who is not concerned by all the hype: President Vladimir Putin.

Putin was asked, jokingly, about the apocalypse predictions during a press conference in Moscow. His answer was stone-cold serious.

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"First of all, I do know when the end of the world will happen," Putin replied, offering a scientific explanation. "In 4.5 billion years as far as I understand the functioning and cycle of our sun."

He explained his calculation by saying that, given the age of the sun, it has approximately that long before it dies as a white dwarf star.

Asked if he was afraid of the end of the world, Putin replied, "What's to be afraid of? It's unavoidable."