Russian President Vladimir Putin taunted the US Thursday by challenging America’s military to a “duel” to see if its defense systems could stop the Kremlin’s new hypersonic ballistic missile.
During his end-of-the-year conference, Putin mocked the West’s claims that the new Oreshnik missile, capable of carrying a nuclear payload, was not as deadly as Moscow claims following its limited use against Ukraine.
The Russian leader then suggested the US pick a target to protect and see if its defense systems would be up to the task of stopping the Oreshnik.
“We’re ready for such an experiment,” Putin said, adding that Western technology “stands no chance.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he was shocked by the challenge Putin put forth, telling reporters that it would be crazy for two superpowers to directly test their weapons against each other in such a way.
“Do you think he is a sane person?” Zelensky asked reporters at a news conference hours later.
The Oreshnik, Russian for hazel tree, was reportedly based on Moscow’s RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile and is capable of carrying either conventional or nuclear warheads.
The rocket hit speeds of nearly 8,500 miles per hour after it was launched from the 4th Missile Test Range in Russia’s Astrakhan region last month, decimating a military site in Dnipro.
The missile can fly between 310 to 3,400 miles, officials have said, putting all of Europe at risk.
Along with the challenge to the US, Putin reiterated threats against Kyiv, suggesting Ukraine’s “decision-making centers” were viable targets in the war.
The threat was made after Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, the head of Russia’s nuclear weapons department, was killed in a scooter explosion in Moscow earlier this week. Kirillov was the highest-ranking Russian official to be killed since the war began in February 2022.
Despite claiming to be confident in Russia’s invasion progress, Putin said he would be willing to agree to a cease-fire agreement on the condition that the US do the bulk of the work getting Kyiv to agree.
He said he was ready for such conversations to take place under the incoming Trump administration, warning the US that Russia is not in a weaker position to bargain with.
“If I ever meet with the newly elected president, Mr. Trump, I am sure we’ll have something to talk about,” Putin said.
With Post wires
