Russian President Vladimir Putin attends his annual end-of-year news conference in Moscow, Russia, December 23, 2016. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday he saw no need in early presidential elections in Russia.

“Let me put it straight: it’s possible but not necessary,” Putin replied to a question if he thought Russia needed early elections.

Putin is widely expected to run for another presidential stint in elections scheduled for 2018.