Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected charges against Russian citizens for their alleged roles in the downing of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jet over Ukraine five years ago, saying they lack proof.

The international team investigating the 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 announced murder charges Wednesday against three Russians and one Ukrainian for their alleged roles in the attack that killed all 298 people on board.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Putin claimed "there is no proof whatsoever" behind the charges and criticised the investigators, saying they ignored evidence provided by Russia.

He blamed Ukraine for setting the stage for the tragedy, saying they failed to close their airspace to commercial flights despite the separatist fighting in the east.

Putin says Russia remains open for dialogue on the case.

Putin said that Russian private military contractors have been active in Syria, adding that they don't represent the Russian state.

Asked why the government doesn't offer veterans' benefits to private contractors who fought in Syria, Putin said Thursday that they have been there in their private capacity and engaged in "oil exploration."

He added that it was "not the Russian government and not the Russian State" so he wouldn't comment on it.

The statement marked Putin's first acknowledgement that Russian private military contractors were active in Syria.

Russian media have reported that the so-called Wagner Company has sent thousands of mercenaries to Syria, augmenting the Russian military.

The company has been linked to businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin, indicted by the U.S. for meddling in the 2016 elections.

Putin said that Russia doesn't want to regain its Soviet-era superpower clout.

Asked if Russia has regained the Soviet Union's superpower status, Putin said it's not needed.

Speaking after Thursday's call-in show, the Russian leader told reporters that "we don't want to be like the Soviet Union that enforced its way of life and political system on its neighbours, including countries of Eastern Europe."

He noted that the Soviet policy was "counterproductive, too costly and lacking historic perspective" and "it's impossible to force other people to live according to your rules."

Putin charged that the U.S. has failed to learn from Soviet mistakes in a bid for global domination.

Moscow - 20 June 2019

1. Wide of Russian President Vladimir Putin walking up to microphones

2. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Vladimir Putin, Russian President:

"Russia has never tried to escape any responsibility, if she had that responsibility on its shoulders. Those facts that we saw presented as evidences of our guilt do not satisfy us. There is not any proof there. All the facts presented there mean nothing."

3. Putin listening as journalist asks questions

4. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Vladimir Putin, Russian President:

"We have our own version, we have presented it, but unfortunately nobody is eager to listen to us. Until there is a true dialogue, we will not find a right answer and the questions about the tragedy of the airplane and the death of people will be still open."

5. Camera operators filming

6. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Vladimir Putin, Russian President:

"We're not looking for this status, it is not our aim. This notion comprises some elements which are interpreted as imposing its influence on other states and the whole regions".

7. Journalist asking question

8. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Vladimir Putin, Russian President:

"We don't want to be like the Soviet Union that enforced its way of life and political system on its neighbours, including countries of Eastern Europe. It is counterproductive, too expensive and lacking historic perspective. It's impossible to force other people to live according to your rules. But it seems that this sad experience of the Soviet Union is not being taken into account by our Western partners. They are repeating the same mistakes, they are stepping on the same rake."

9. Journalist asking question

10. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Vladimir Putin, Russian President:

"They are not employed by the Russian government. And they don't participate in military operations. They are solving the issues of economic character, to the oil extraction. That is all what it is about."

11. Wide of Putin listening to question

12. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Vladimir Putin, Russian President:

"Of course we recognise that even working on these economic activities, people risk their lives. And, by the way, this is also an investment into the fight with the terrorism, because they fight out these fields from the Islamic State. But that is not Russian government and not the Russian State. So we don't comment on that."

13. Wide of Putin listening

14. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) Vladimir Putin, Russian President:

"What am I expecting from this meeting? I expect the continuation of the dialogue. I'm sure that Shinzo (Abe), as well as all of us, want the complete normalisation of relations and the signing of the peace treaty. It seemed to be very close, but now there are some issues appear that postpone the final solution of this issue. But what is completely obvious, and I have spoken about that before, is that the Japanese side and Russia want the complete normalisation of our relations."

15. Wide of Putin leaving