“Thanks to Mr. Snowden, a lot has changed in the minds of people around the world,” Putin told reporters in his annual televised news conference. “We don’t help him – we just gave him temporary asylum.”

“He has to make his own decision for his future. How is he going to live? Where is he going to live? … He has made such a decision for himself…he’s noble – but he has his own activities and I have my own.”

“We have never worked together,” Putin added.