In Putin's interview with Germany's Bild daily, he was also asked about the crisis in Ukraine and Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Putin said that "for me, it is not borders and state territories that matter, but people's fortunes."
"Of course one always has to follow international law. This was also the case in Crimea.
"The Russian population is absolutely clear about the situation. Napoleon once said that justice is the incarnation of God on Earth. I'm telling you: the reunification of Crimea and Russia is just," Putin continued, describing the sanctions against Russia as "foolish."
Ukraine soldier killed in clashes in rebel east
Kiev, Jan 11, 2016 (AFP) -- One Ukrainian soldier was killed in clashes between pro-Russian rebels and government forces in the war-torn east, Kiev said Monday, a day after four others died in an uptick of violence.
"Over the last day, as a result of hostilities one Ukrainian soldier was killed and another injured", military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told journalists.
The incident occurred during the shelling of Zaitseve village near Gorlivka, some 55 kilometres (35 miles) northeast of the rebels' de facto capital Donetsk, he said.
His death came after officials said two government soldiers and two rebel fighters were killed in fighting on Sunday in the first casualties of the year in the conflict-hit region.
Meanwhile, separatist authorities accused the Ukrainian army of breaching the truce 14 times and said violence was increasing around the territory they control.
"The situation in Donetsk People's Republic has greatly escalated", the separatist DAN news agency said.
Over 9,000 people have been killed and more than 20,000 injured in the conflict in Ukraine since April 2014, according to the United Nations.
A shaky ceasefire that started in September has calmed fighting along the frontline but sporadic clashes still occur at key hotspots.
Little progress has been made on a political roadmap deal agreed last February that aims to see Ukraine hold local elections in the rebel-held territory, and for Kiev to resume control of the border with Russia.
Does this have anything to do with Russian governmental plane spotted in Kyiv Boryspil airport today?
Here is today's map of the security situation in eastern Ukraine, according to the National Security and Defense Council (click to enlarge):
President Petro Poroshenko at the opening ceremony of a school in Ternopil Oblast:
"This year I expect the EU to implement the visa-free regime for Ukrainians".