Outgoing Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Friday announced that he would join the ruling United Russia party and take up the party's leadership.

"I would like to state that I will join United Russia," Medvedev told a meeting with the leadership of the ruling party, adding that any leader of the party should be its member.

He expressed gratitude to Prime Minister and President-elect Vladimir Putin, the current party leader, who recommended Medvedev for the job.

"I accept it officially," the outgoing president said, adding that Putin's offer indicates "very serious confidence and great responsibility."

Putin said Tuesday that he would quit as chairman of the United Russia party after his inauguration on May 7.

In last December, Medvedev accepted Putin's proposal to head United Russia's candidate list in parliamentary elections.

Founded in 2001, United Russia is the dominant party in the country with more than 2 million members. Putin, the most influential political figure in Russia, has been its leader since May 2008.