Putin Proposes U.S.-Russia Missile Fight... "Close to Achieve War Goals"

Russian President Vladimir Putin says it is impossible to shoot down his new missile "Oresynik" and is ready for a missile technology confrontation with the United States.

At his annual press conference in Moscow today (19th), Putin said, "If there is a Western expert who thinks it is possible to shoot down Oresynik, we propose a confrontation."

He also argued that the situation is changing significantly as Russian forces advance from the frontline in the war against Ukraine, and that they are nearing their goal.

At the same time, he stressed that he would push Ukrainian forces back from the Kursk region in western Russia and take back territory.

Putin said he last talked to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who will take office next month, more than four years ago and that he is ready to talk, although he does not know when he will meet.

Asked if he was ready to compromise with Ukraine, he said he had always said he was ready to talk and negotiate, but the other side refused, adding that he believes there will be a lot to discuss when he meets Trump.

The mother of U.S. journalist Austin Thais, who disappeared 12 years ago in Syria, said she planned to speak to former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who was ousted by the rebels, in response to a letter to Putin asking for help to find her son.