Six sources told Reuters that Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to run in the presidential elections in March, a move that would keep him in power until at least 2030.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday that the Russian president had not issued an announcement or statements regarding his candidacy for a new presidential term, and that the campaign had not announced that yet.

Putin took over the presidency from Boris Yeltsin in the last days of 1999, and has actually remained in power longer than any other ruler of Russia since communist leader Joseph Stalin, and also exceeded Leonid Brezhnev's 18-year rule.

Putin turned 71 years old on October 7.

The sources, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said that news of Putin's decision began to circulate and advisors began preparing for the campaign. One of the sources, who is familiar with the plans, told Reuters news agency: “The decision has been made... He will run.” Another source said that a thoughtful hint about the matter would come within a few weeks, confirming a report published by the Kommersant newspaper last month.

Another source who is also familiar with what is going on in the Kremlin said that the decision had been taken, and that Putin’s advisors were preparing for Putin’s participation in the elections. Three other sources said that the decision had already been made, and that Putin would run in the presidential elections. One of the sources said: “The global scene we are facing is extremely dangerous.”

A foreign diplomatic source, who also requested to remain anonymous, said that Putin made the decision recently, and that the announcement would be made soon.

While a number of foreign diplomats and officials say they expect Putin to remain in power as long as he lives, there has yet to be specific confirmation of his plans to run in the presidential elections in March 2024.

The Kremlin denied reports that Putin was not in good health, describing them as a disinformation campaign spread by the West.