Russian President President Vladimir Putin does not want Russian children placed for adoption to be adopted by foreign gay or same-sex couples.

Although no bill has been filed yet banning the adoption of Russian children by same sex couples, but should there be, and if it gets approved by national parliament, "I would sign it," the president told reporters at a European Union-Russia summit press conference.

Mr Putin's stand essentially supports a statement made by Deputy Prime Minister Olga Golodets over the weekend that Russian legislature is currently working on the amendments of foreign adoptions of Russian children. Russian government wants that Russian children up for adoption be given only to "traditional families."

The earlier policy bears several stringent requirements for foreign or overseas adoptive parents, including sufficient income and clean criminal records, among others. Sexual orientation was not mentioned there, which the government wants to address now.

The amended bill is due to be submitted to parliament in its autumn session.

Russia's shoot-out seemed clear - only heterosexual foreign couples can adopt Russian children. This, despite Mr Putin claiming Russia does not discriminate gay people or same-sex couples.

"I think our legislation is very liberal in this way, and there is no discrimination, none at all," he said.

The debate on whether Russian children for adoption should be passed on to gay people or same-sex couples stemmed from a proposal last week by Children's Rights Ombudsman Pavel Astakhov. He suggested suspending the adoption of Russian children by French couples after that country legalised adoptions by gay couples.

As early as April, Mr Putin had expressed his contradiction to the idea of Russian orphans getting adopted by gay people or same-sex couples. This, he said, contradicts traditional Russian values, thus telling the world his country would ensure that foreign gay couples will not have their hands on Russian children.

They don't want them further damaged since the idea of them being placed for adoption is already painful. A Russian report commissioned by Putin's government in May found "psychological damage" in a boy who was adopted by two gay women in the U.S.