At his annual press conference on the end of 2024, President Putin claimed that Russia’s military has actually grown stronger in recent years.
“Our defense is the best in the world, and so is our military industry. Our forces are moving forward,” he said.
He added: “Russia is in the state we aspired to. Russia has become stronger, so we will take decisions without taking into account the opinions of others.”
The Russian president sounded cautious when asked whether Western countries understood last month’s changes to Russia’s nuclear doctrine. “I don’t know how they figured it out. You have to ask them,” he said.
“If such states pose a threat to us, we reserve the right to use nuclear weapons against them,” he continued, referring to Western nations.
Last month, President Putin changed the principles governing Russia’s use of nuclear weapons, setting new conditions for when Russia can deploy nuclear weapons.
According to NBC News, Putin said the “Oleshnik” missile defense system is “a very new weapon of our time” in response to a question referring to Western doubts about Russia’s missile capabilities.
“Let’s do an experiment, like a high-tech duel. Let’s have[the West]designate a target in Kiev, concentrate our air defenses, launch the Oreshnik and see if it hits the target,” he said. “There is no chance of it being shot down.”
The Kremlin announced on Monday that Russia would begin mass production of the missile “in the near future” to “protect the security of Russia and its allies.”
The Russian military deployed Oreshnik missiles for the first time late last month, hitting the Ukrainian city of Dnipropetrovsk, after Kiev used long-range missiles provided by France, the United States and Britain to attack targets inside Russia. attacked.
Asked about events in Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces still hold territory, Putin said: “We are moving forward in all directions.” The situation on the ground is “changing dramatically,” he says.
When asked by residents of Kursk’s Bolshesoldostsky district about the destroyed villages in the area, President Putin said: “It is certain that Ukrainians will be driven out and everything will be rebuilt.” said their push was pointless to begin with.
But Putin added that he “does not make any predictions about specific dates” as to when these things will happen.
Despite the country’s 9.3% inflation rate, Putin said “Russia’s economy is doing well,” with wages and real disposable income increasing and next year’s growth estimated at around 3.9%. he added.
Russia’s central bank may have to raise interest rates further beyond the current level of 21%, which it raised in October.
MNA/PR
