New love ... Vladimir Putin wants to assure us all not to worry because he is in love. Picture: Getty Source: Supplied

Mr Putin, 62, divorced his wife of 30 years Lyudmila Putina in 2013, with whom he has two daughters, Maria, 28, and Katerina, 27.

He has been rumoured for the past six years to be in a relationship with 31-year-old Olympic gymnast Alina Kabayeva.

Flexible ... Russian gymnast Alina Kabayeva in 2006. Source: AP

The topic has been off limits for Russian journalists but one reporter asked overnight if he has time for a personal life

She added that her aunt’s friends wanted to date him.

“I do, I tell you,” he said. “Everything is just fine, please don’t worry.”

“A friend of mine, a dignitary from Europe, asked me recently: do you have love in your life? Well yes, there is someone I love, and people love me back. Everything is just fine.

Mr Putin went on to say that he still maintains a friendly relationship with his ex-wife.

“I have very good relations with Lyudmila, we see each other regularly. I see my children regularly too, but not as often as I would like,” he said.

Grew apart ... Russia's President Vladimir Putin and his then wife Lyudmila Putina in 2006. Picture: Getty Images) Source: Supplied

He finished his press conference by flirtatiously telling the reporter to “say hi to your aunt’s friends.”

Ms Putina has said in the past that her marriage to Mr Putin ended “due to the fact that we barely see each other”.

“Vladimir is completely submerged in his work,” she said. “Our children have grown up,

each of them is living her own life ... I truly don’t like publicity.”