Russia's President Vladimir Putin has called the British navy sailing in contested waters off Crimea in the Black Sea "provocation" in a TV interview.

Speaking to a call-in show, an annual event in Russia, Putin argued HMS Defender sailed into what Russia considers its waters for "military goals." 

"It was obvious that the destroyer entered [the waters near Crimea] pursuing, first of all, military goals, trying to use a reconnaissance aircraft to discover how our forces would stop such provocations, to see what happens on our side, how things work and where everything is located," Putin said. 

The event sparked a diplomatic row between London and Moscow, after Russian forces claimed they had fired warning shots from sea and air – claims the UK government said it did not "recognize."

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In the same interview, Russia's leader played down the potential consequences of the clash. 

"Even if we had sunk the British destroyer near Crimea it is unlikely that the world would have been on the verge of World War Three," he argued. 

Putin was also questioned on Ukraine – which disputes Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 – and why he has not accepted President Volodymyr Zelensky's invitation to meet in eastern Ukraine. 

"What's the use of meeting with Zelensky when he has given full control of his country to outside management? Key decisions are being made in Washington and Berlin and Paris to some extent," the Putin said. 

"I'm not refusing to meet with Zelensky, it's just necessary to understand what there is to talk about."