HIGHLIGHTS-Russian President Vladimir Putin's end-of-year news conference

The following are highlights from Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual end-of-year news conference on Thursday.

ON IMPEACHMENT OF U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP "You phrase your question as if Trump's presidency is coming to an end. I am not sure that's the case. (The impeachment bill) still needs to go through the Senate where Republicans as far as I know have a majority. It's unlikely they will want to remove from power a representative of their party based on what are, in my opinion, completely fabricated reasons."

ON EXTENDING THE NEW START ARMS CONTROL TREATY "We are ready until the end of the year to extend the existing agreement, the new START treaty."

"But thus far there has been no answer to any of our suggestions. And without a new START treaty, there is nothing to curb an arms race. And that, in my opinion, is bad." ON CHANGING RUSSIAN PRESIDENTIAL TERM LIMITS

"One thing that could be changed about these (presidential) terms is removing the clause about 'successive' (terms). Your humble servant served two terms consecutively, then left his post, but with the constitutional right to return to the post of president again, because these two terms were not successive. (This clause) troubles some of our political analysts and public figures. Well, maybe it could be removed." ON CHINA

"We do not have a military alliance with China and we do not plan to create one." "But our relations with China continue to develop, including in the sphere of defence technologies... I think China is capable of producing its own ballistic missile early warning system, but with our help it can do so sooner. This will improve our strategic partner's ability to defend itself in a significant way."

ON ELECTION OF BRITISH PM BORIS JOHNSON "Johnson can be congratulated. He was victorious after all and had a better sense of the British public's mood than his political opponents. And as far as I understand, he intends to implement all of his Brexit plans."

ON RUSSIA'S DOPING SCANDAL "If WADA does not have any claims against our national Olympic Committee, then our team should be allowed to participate under its own flag."

ON UKRAINE PEACE TALKS "If a revision of the Minsk (peace) Agreements starts, then the situation could enter a complete dead end."

"Direct dialogue on Donbass is needed. It is lacking." ON UKRAINE GAS TALKS

"We will look for a solution that is acceptable for all parties, including Ukraine... We will preserve gas transit through Ukraine." "We have no desire to exacerbate the situation in the energy sector or use this to influence the situation in Ukraine itself."