MOSCOW, December 8. /TASS/. Vladimir Putin will run for president in the 2024 election, he said in the Kremlin while talking to participants at a Heroes of the Fatherland Day ceremony.

"I am going to run for president of the Russian Federation," Putin said.

Artem Zhoga, speaker of the parliament of the Donetsk People’s Republic and the father of a fallen hero of the special military operation, asked him to run for re-election.

Putin admitted that he thought long and hard about his future presidency.

"Well, as for now, you are right. It is time to decide," he told Zhoga.

President Vladimir Putin’s current term in office expires on May 7, 2024. Russia’s next presidential election is scheduled for March 17.

Requests from across Russia

On the sidelines of the ceremony marking the Heroes of the Fatherland Day, which is celebrated on December 9 in Russia, several participants asked Putin to run in the election in 2024.

Zhoga made his request to the president on behalf of all the people living in new Russian regions.

"Thanks to your actions and your decision, we have gained freedom and the right to choose," Zhoga told the president. "There is still a lot of work to do, we still need integration socially and in all other economic forms. And purely [the transition] to simply ordinary, human, peaceful life. We would like to do this under your leadership. You are our president and we are your team. We need you, and Russia needs you," the DPR parliament speaker stressed.

Among others who asked Putin to run for president were several more participants at the ceremony, whom the president thanked for their support.

"Thank you for these words, especially said in this situation and today," he told them.

"I have had different thoughts about this issue," he said again. "However, I understand that there is no other way today. That is why I will run for president of Russia."