Vladimir Putin has mapped out how he would retain a powerful political role as prime minister in tandem with Dmitry Medvedev, his preferred successor as Russian president, but insisted he was not addicted to power.

In his last press conference before elections in March, after which he will step down, Mr Putin made clear he had taken the lead in drafting Russia’s development strategy for the next 12 years. The president said he would stay on as prime minister as long as he could implement the strategy he had “formulated”.