( BBC ) President Vladimir Putin has said he does not rule out running again for Russia's top job in 2012 or 2016.
In wide-ranging discussions with Western reporters, Mr Putin also said he wanted to remain an influential figure when he stands down next March.
But he stressed that he did not want to weaken the position of his successor.
There have been rumours that Mr Putin might use his high ratings to change the constitution and stay for a third consecutive term.
Weighing options
Mr Putin's comments came during his meeting with Western reporters and academics at his presidential residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.
He made it clear he was definitely planning to stand down next year, says the BBC's Bridget Kendall, who was at the meeting.
Mr Putin said he had not yet decided what to do next or whether he would stay in politics, but he insisted that he would remain in Russia and was weighing options, our correspondent says.
Touching on next year's presidential election, he said there were several likely candidates, singling out for praise new Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov.
Mr Putin was speaking after his surprise nomination of Mr Zubkov as PM was accepted by 381 votes to 47 in the lower house of parliament on Friday.