Vladimir Putin says he has no regrets since God granted him a perfect life

Russia's president Vladimir Putin has claimed his life has been so perfectly crafted by God that he has no regrets.

Putin's comments came as he was prepping for the Expo 2015 world fair in Milan on Wednesday (10 June).

Speaking to an Italian daily Corriere della Sera, Putin was asked: "Is there an action that you most regret in your life, something that you consider a mistake and wouldn't want to repeat ever again?"

In reply, Putin said, reported The Independent: "I'll be totally frank with you. I cannot recollect anything of the kind. It appears that the Lord built my life in a way that I have nothing to regret."

Russia and the West

Putin also touched on the topic of economic sanctions levied against Russia over the Ukraine crisis.

"I firmly believe that Russia was not responsible for the deterioration in relations between our country and the EU states. This was not our choice; it was dictated to us by our partners," said Putin.

"It was not we who introduced restrictions on trade and economic activities. Rather, we were the target and we had to respond with retaliatory, protective measures."

Putin further added that there is no need for the world to be threatened by Russia.

"US military spending is higher than that of all countries in the world taken together," said Putin, reported the Quartz.

"Let me tell you something—there is no need to fear Russia. The world has changed so drastically that people with some common sense cannot even imagine such a large-scale military conflict today. We have other things to think about, I assure you."

Meanwhile, Italy's foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni had earlier said: "Italy has been combining loyalty to its allies with a special relationship with Russia."