LONDON– Russia’s battle on Ukraine controlled the opening phases of Head of state Vladimir Putin’s yearly marathon interview on Thursday, with the Russian leader additionally dealing with problems consisting of future relationships with President-elect Donald Trump and the circumstance in Syria.
Amongst the concerns was exactly how Moscow would certainly handle the inbound Trump management offered Russia remained in a “weak setting.”
In feedback, Putin stated he had actually not talked with Trump for 4 years however awaited a conference. “You would certainly quite like Russia to be in a damaged setting, however I hold a various perspective,” he stated.
Going over the continuous battle in Ukraine, Putin declared that the Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic rocket lately utilized to strike the Ukrainian city of Dnipro can not be obstructed by Western air protection systems.
Russian Head of state Vladimir Putin pays attention to a concern throughout his yearly press conference and call-in reveal at Gostinny Dvor in Moscow, Russia, on, Dec. 19, 2024.
Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP
Western modern technology, he stated, “stands no possibility” versus the rocket.
Putin also recommended setting up “an experiment or a battle” in which Russia would certainly choose a target for an Oreshnik strike in Kyiv and Ukraine would certainly establish its Western-supplied air defenses to obstruct the rocket.
” It will certainly be intriguing for us,” Putin stated.
Inquired about missing out on united state reporter Austin Tice– that went away in Syria 12 years earlier– Putin stated he would certainly increase the problem with previous Syrian Head of state Bashar Assad, currently residing in expatriation in Russia having actually been fallen by a rebel offensive previously this month.
Tice’s mom has actually supposedly contacted Putin requesting assistance in discovering Tice, that is currently the topic of a significant search initiative by the united state with help from local allies and the brand-new rebel-led authorities in Syria.
Putin stated he has actually not seen Assad in Moscow considering that he was provided asylum there, however he will certainly increase the problem of Tice’s location.
” I assure that I will certainly ask this inquiry,” he stated. “I can additionally ask concerns to individuals that manage the circumstance.”
ABC Information’ Anastasia Bagaeva, Tanya Stukalova and Fidel Pavlenko added to this record.
