Putin Open to Dialogue with Trump

On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed readiness for a dialogue with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, discussing Russia's economic and military status without specifying a meeting date.

In his annual press conference, Putin addressed the situation in Syria, asserting that Russia had not been defeated there and mentioning proposals concerning Russia's military bases in the country.

Putin revealed plans to meet with Syrian President Bashar al Assad to inquire about missing U.S. reporter Austin Tice.

On the domestic economy, Putin acknowledged overheating signs leading to high inflation. He supported the central bank's tight monetary policy but suggested it could have acted more promptly.

The central bank is forecasted to raise its key interest rate by 200 basis points to 23% at its next meeting, the highest level in over 20 years. Putin noted the government and central bank are working to slow down economic growth.

On military matters, Putin suggested a missile 'duel' with the U.S. to demonstrate Russia's Oreshnik hypersonic missile capabilities against U.S. defense systems. He proposed both nations select a target protected by U.S. missiles for this experiment, stating the Oreshnik is a modern weapon based on earlier Russian designs.

Putin also discussed the progress of Russian forces in Ukraine, stating they are advancing along the front line towards their primary goals. He described the situation as "changing dramatically" with daily territorial gains, though predicting future developments remains challenging due to the conflict's complexity. Military analysts report that Russia is advancing in eastern Ukraine at its fastest pace since 2022, threatening key cities like Pokrovsk, an important road and rail hub.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information, see our T&C.