Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had a tart response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annual year-end information convention Thursday, hurling a impolite epithet on the Kremlin chief in feedback on-line.
During the press convention, Putin boasted concerning the functionality of the Oreshnik, a brand new nuclear-capable ballistic missile that Russia just lately fired on the Ukrainian metropolis of Dnipro. He additionally repeated an earlier menace to strike Ukraine once more with the missile, suggesting that it’s fired at Kyiv as a check of Western-supplied air protection tools.
“Let them suggest … some sort of technological experiment – a sort of high-tech duel of the twenty first century, let’s say,” Putin stated. “Let them decide some goal to be hit, for instance in Kyiv, they focus all their air and missile protection forces there, and we are going to strike there with the Oreshnik. And we’ll see what occurs.”
He added: “We are prepared for such an experiment. In any case, we don’t rule it out. We will conduct such an experiment, such a technological duel, and see what occurs. It’s fascinating.”
Zelensky posted an excerpt of these remarks on X, commenting in English: “People are dying, and he thinks it’s ‘fascinating’… Dumbass.” He additionally posted an identical remark in Ukrainian.
Putin appeared to make equally glib remarks concerning the battle in Ukraine in the beginning of his feedback Thursday, intimating that battle was making life extra fascinating.
“You know, when all the pieces is calm, measured, steady, you get bored. Stagnation. You want some motion. As quickly because the motion begins, all the pieces whizzes previous your head: seconds, bullets. Unfortunately, bullets are whistling now.”
Putin’s marathon year-end information convention on Thursday consisted of a public Q&A session mixed with a public phone-in. The occasion is staged yearly by Putin as a solution to present his sweeping management of all facets of the nation.
Russia’s battle on Ukraine was a serious subject, with Putin eager to emphasise Russia’s current positive aspects in grinding battle of attrition. He additionally stated whereas he had not spoken to US President-elect Donald Trump in over 4 years, he was “prepared” for potential talks with him, amid expectation that the brand new administration in Washington will push for a negotiated finish to the battle in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks throughout his annual press convention on December 19, 2024, in Moscow, Russia. – Contributor/Getty Images
“You requested what we are able to provide, or what I can provide to the newly elected President Trump after we meet,” Putin stated in response to a query from NBC’s Keir Simmons. “First of all, I don’t know after we will meet. Because he hasn’t stated something about it. I haven’t spoken to him in any respect in over 4 years. Of course, I’m prepared for this at any time, and I will likely be prepared for a gathering if he needs it.”
Asked whether or not Russia can be in a weaker negotiating place due to current setbacks in Syria and on the battlefield in Ukraine, Putin replied, “You stated that this dialog will happen in a state of affairs when I’m in some weakened state… And you, and people individuals who pay your salaries within the US, would very very like Russia to be in a weakened place.”
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