Russia has never worked with Edward Snowden, says Putin

In annual press conference from Moscow, Russian president says he was 'jealous' of scale of NSA surveillance programme

Vladimir Putin his given his marathon annual press conference in Moscow. More than 1,300 journalists were accredited this year, with many waving signs, flags and banners in order to get the Russian president's attention to ask a question.

Over the course of four hours he was asked about everything from missile systems to regional bypass roads, and was presented with a furry toy yeti by one journalist. Putin touched on many major themes:

Edward Snowden and the NSA leaks

Putin insisted that Russian intelligence has never worked with Edward Snowden – the former NSA contractor given temporary asylum in the country – and half-joked that he was "jealous" that US authorities were able to carry out such invasive surveillance programmes.

"Operationally, we are not working with him and never have done, and are not asking him any questions about how his agency worked on Russia," said Putin.

"I won't hide it, this person is not without interest for me. I think that thanks to Snowden, a lot changed in the minds of millions of people, including in the minds of major political leaders."

He added: "For me it was always intriguing how he decided this, because he's quite a young guy. What does he have? He doesn't have anything. How does he plan to live? Where does he plan to live?"

The former KGB agent said people should remember that espionage was necessary for security reasons: "However much our American friends are criticised, I think their work was mainly directed at fighting terrorism. Of course, this has its negative aspects and on a political level the appetites of the special services need to be controlled. But overall, you have to understand that it is necessary."

Ukraine

Putin insisted that Russia's $15bn bailout of the economically struggling country was driven by a desire to help a partner in dire straits.

"If we really say it's a brotherly nation, then we should of course act like close relatives and help them in this difficult situation," said Putin.

He denied that Russia put any pressure on Ukraine not to sign the EU pact – a move that sparked massive street protests "It's not linked in any way to the maidan [protests in Independence Square], or to the EU association, we just see that Ukraine is in a difficult position and we need to help it."

Greenpeace 'Arctic 30' protest

Putin was scathing about the Greenpeace Arctic 30, who had faced up to seven years in jail over their Arctic oil drilling protest but are set to be freed under an amnesty passed by the Russian parliament on Wednesday. He said it was good that Greenpeace would benefit from the amnesty "but we didn't do it for them".

Putin said he supported environmental organisations, but said the Greenpeace protest against the Prirazlomnaya rig was unacceptable: "It was either an attempt at getting PR, or an attempt at blackmail and extortion, or they were carrying out somebody's order to stop our work."

Pussy Riot

Putin was asked if he thought the two-year jail sentence given to members of the punk group, who are also due to be released under the amnesty law, was too harsh, and whether as a father himself he felt sorry for the two jailed young mothers.

"I felt sorry not for that, but for their disgraceful behaviour, which I think degrades the dignity of women … They crossed all boundaries."

Mikhail Khodorkovsky

Putin said he would soon pardon jailed oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who still has eight months left to serve of a more than 10-year jail sentence.

A lawyer for Khodorkovsky said however that the tycoon had not asked Putin for a pardon. Khodorkovsky was jailed on charges including theft and fraud but the president's opponents regard him as a political prisoner.