Russian President Vladimir Putin took questions on Wednesday from international journalists for the first time since his inauguration, at a session on the sidelines of the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

He faced questions from senior news leaders of international news agencies, including The Associated Press.

The Russian leader has used the annual forum as a showcase for touting Russia’s development and seeking investors.

While meetings with journalists were part of previous sessions, he has not taken questions from western journalists at the St Petersburg event since sending troops to Ukraine.

Last year, journalists from countries that Russia regards as unfriendly, including the US, the UK and the European Union, were not invited, and western officials and investors also steered clear of the session after wide-ranging sanctions were imposed on Moscow over Ukraine.

During the session he said that nothing will change in terms of Russia-US relations, regardless of who wins the American presidential election.

“We will work with any president the American people will elect,” Mr Putin said.