Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that the United States and its allies conduct a "missile duel" on Ukrainian soil to show that the new Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile could not be intercepted by any American missile defense system.
In his speech at the annual conference, Vladimir Putin once again reiterated the fact that the Oreshnik missile is undetectable by American defense systems.
"There is no chance of shooting down these missiles. If Western experts think that Oreshnik can be shot down, we propose to them to conduct some kind of technological experiment, a high-tech duel of the 21st century, let them designate some object, let's say, in Kiev, concentrate all their air and missile defense forces there, and we will hit it with Oreshnik and see what happens," said Vladimir Putin, President of Russia.
According to Putin, the situation in the war is changing significantly. Russia is in the process of achieving its priority goals, the president said.
"I must say that the situation is changing dramatically. You know this well, I just want to confirm it. The movement is taking place every day along the entire front line. And as I already said, we are not talking about advancing 100, 200, or 300 meters, our fighters are taking and retaking territories of square kilometers - I want to emphasize - we are taking territories every day," Putin said.
Putin reiterated his readiness to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine. According to him, Russia has no preconditions for negotiations. He was also prepared to make concessions, Putin said in response to a question from the American broadcaster NBC. "Politics is the art of compromise." At the same time, the Kremlin leader once again accused Ukraine of blocking the negotiations.
Regarding this, Zelensky today from Brussels, where he is attending a meeting of the European Council, described Putin as a "bastard person", Sky News reports.
"Today, a comrade from the Kremlin said that Russia is offering a 'technological duel'... Do you think this is a person of character? He is just a bastard, a scoundrel, a psychopath," Zelensky said characteristically.
Zelensky further emphasized that Ukraine needs 19 more air defense systems to protect energy infrastructure, especially nuclear power plants, from Russian missiles.
“Our priority is air defense, fulfilling agreements with partners, especially with the United States, to provide Ukraine with the necessary systems. We need 19 more systems to protect energy infrastructure, especially nuclear power plants, from Russian missiles,” Zelensky noted.