MOSCOW, December 18. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin said at an annual press conference on Thursday it is early to make a decision on running for president in 2018 and this largely depends on the results the country will show.

“It is early for anyone to make a decision on the 2018 presidential election,” the Russian leader said.

He said it is important to work persistently in the interests of Russian citizens and make the decision on who will run in the election "based on results and sentiment in the society.”

Putin stressed that the head of state and officials at lower levels bear the responsibility for what is going on in the country. “And I have never dodged this responsibility and I am not planning to do it,” he said.

In an exclusive interview with TASS in November, Putin said he is not planning to remain Russia’s president for life as this is detrimental for the country, but he did not rule out that he could run for the post in 2018.