Russian President, Vladimir Putin has challenged the West to a missile “duel” to prove the capabilities of Russia’s new Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile.
This came as he delivered his annual end-of-year address to the country and took questions from reporters.
He praised Russia’s new ballistic missile, known as Oreshnik, as a “modern weapon,” insisting that Western technology “stands no chance” of intercepting it.
Putin elaborated on his proposed missile experiment, saying, “Select a target in Kyiv, bring Western air defences there and see if they are able to intercept it.” “We’re ready for such an experiment,” Putin said.
Russia first fired the Oreshnik missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in November, in what Putin cast as a response to Ukraine’s first use of US ATACMS ballistic missiles and British Storm Shadows to strike Russian territory with Western permission.
Also, Putin made comments on his country’s nuclear doctrine.
Last month, the Kremlin leader approved changes that set out new conditions under which the country would consider using its arsenal.
The doctrine now says an attack from a non-nuclear state, if backed by a nuclear power, will be treated as a joint assault on Russia.
When asked whether “the message has been received from the West,” Putin remarked, “I don’t know, you should ask them.”
The changes to the doctrine, Putin explained, are that “we talk about the emerging military threats… like the emergence of anti-missile systems.”
He said that if countries create a threat to Russia, Russia believes it has the right to use nuclear weapons against them.
Additionally, Putin stated that the Russian economy is stable despite high inflation.
He added that the economy is expected to grow by 4 percent this year, but inflation – at 9.2 to 9.3 percent – is a worrying signal.
Putin said that the economy is “overheated” but added that the government and Russia’s Central Bank are working to slow it down. “I hope that we will be able to tackle high prices,” he said.
Putin Addresses Conflict In Ukraine
Moreover, Putin addressed the conflict in Ukraine, saying Russia is “ready” for talks but it needs the other side to be ready for them, as well. “We have always said we are ready for talks and compromises,” the Russian President said.
Putin also said that the situation in Ukraine was “changing significantly” but that the Russian military is “moving towards achieving their primary goals” there.
He noted that there is “movement along the front line” with Ukraine “every day.”
“Everyone is fighting, literally heroically. And they are fighting right now.
“Let us wish them all, both those who are fighting in the Kursk region (of Russia) and those who are fighting along the entire front line, good luck, victory and to return home.”
Vladimir Putin
However, in response to a reporter’s question about when Russia will regain control of the Kursk region, Putin said, “I can’t tell you a concrete date but we will definitely liberate it.”
Also, Putin commented on the murder of a high-profile General in Moscow earlier this week by accusing Ukraine of having repeatedly committed acts of terror against his country’s citizens.
Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, who was the Chief of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops, was killed outside his apartment building on Tuesday along with his assistant when a bomb attached to an electric scooter exploded.
Putin noted that the murder was committed in a way that is dangerous to the lives of many. He added, “The regime in Kyiv has repeatedly committed such crimes, terrorist crimes, terrorist attacks against many citizens of the Russian Federation.”
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