Putin says Western sanctions to remain in near future

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a live broadcast nationwide call-in in Moscow, Russia, April 14, 2016. REUTERS/Michael Klimentyev/Sputnik/Kremlin

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he does not see Western sanctions on Russia being lifted in the near future. Putin, in his annual televised phone-in, said Moscow would maintain its counter sanctions against the West.

(Reporting by Alexander Winning and Andrew Osborn; Writing and editing by Jack Stubbs, Dmitry Solovyov, Maria Kiselyova)