Russia ready for a 'missile showdown' with the US

Russian President Vladimir Putin hinted at a potential 'missile duel' with the US to demonstrate the power of Moscow's Oreshnik medium-range hypersonic ballistic missile.

According to Reuters, quoting Russian President Putin at his year-end press conference on December 19, to address Western countries' skepticism about the effectiveness of the Oreshnik missile, the Russian leader suggested that the parties should choose a target protected by missiles from Washington. "We will attack it with the Oreshnik missile and wait and see what happens. We are ready for such a test," Mr. Putin said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin answers questions during his year-end press conference on December 19, 2024

Mr. Putin also said that the Oreshnik missile is a modern weapon and inherits previous Soviet designs. Russia first fired the Oreshnik missile at the city of Dnipro (Ukraine) on November 21, a move Mr. Putin considered a response to Ukraine's use of the US ATACMS long-range missile and the British Storm Shadow missile to attack Russian territory with the permission of the West.

Russian President Putin also warned that if the West provides Ukraine with the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system, Russia will seek to collect valuable technical information about the complex through Moscow's intelligence network in Kyiv.

Also at the press conference, Mr. Putin shared: "We are always ready to negotiate and compromise. However, the other side, both literally and figuratively, refuses to negotiate. In my opinion, soon, no one will want to fight anymore." The Russian leader also said he is ready to talk to US President-elect Donald Trump, but has not yet known a specific time frame.

President Putin also affirmed that Russia has become stronger after the past 2-3 years. "We are becoming a truly sovereign country. We are no longer dependent on many people," according to Mr. Putin.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tong-thong-putin-nga-san-sang-cho-mot-cuoc-dau-ten-lua-voi-my-18524121919164266.htm