Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev are already considering their roles in the 2012 presidential election, Putin told French media on Wednesday.
"Naturally, I am already thinking about this issue with President Medvedev but have decided not to make much fuss about it, not to let ourselves be distracted by this problem," Putin said.
His comments to the French media were carried by Russian news agencies.
Putin, president from 2000 to 2008, anointed Medvedev as his successor when his second and last term in office expired. Putin can run for president again in 2012 and stay in power until 2024.
Since 2008, the duo have been running the country in a tandem.
"What we will do in 2012 will depend on the results [of our work]," Putin said in an interview ahead of his visit to France, which starts Thursday.
He said there was "no need to interfere in each other's area of competence."