"We will wait for the practical realization of what we saw during the election campaign," he told German media, adding that Russia had paid great attention to last year's presidential elections.
"Obama looks like an open, sincere person. Time will tell," Putin said.
Obama will be inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States on Tuesday.
Russia has protested U.S. plans for a missile defense system in Central Europe, and its support of NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia, but Putin said there had been "positive signals" from Obama.
Putin said there was much common ground between the two countries on arms control, the Middle East, Iran and Afghanistan, as well as on the global economic crisis.
"We have heard and completely agree that we have much in common," Putin said. "We are ready for such teamwork."
