Iran Press/Europe: "I haven't yet seen president Assad since his arrival in Moscow but I plan to, I will definitely speak with him," Putin told a US journalist, adding that Russia went to Syria ten years ago to prevent a terrorist siege there, and it accomplished its objectives.
The annual press conference, a hallmark of Putin's presidency, focused heavily on the Ukraine war and the sweeping international sanctions imposed on the country. The session, broadcast live under the banner "Year in Review," also allowed citizens to submit questions to the president.
According to reports, over two million questions were submitted, addressing topics ranging from Russia's economy and foreign policy to the war in Ukraine and the impact of sanctions. During the session, Putin touted Russia's economic resilience despite Western sanctions, announcing a projected 4% growth for the year.
"While inflation remains high at 9.3%, the economic situation is stable," Putin assured.
Putin also issued a technological challenge to Western powers, daring them to test Russia’s military capabilities. Referring to doubts about the effectiveness of Russia’s "Oreshnik" missile system, Putin proposed a "21st-century high-tech duel."
"Let them choose a target in Kyiv, deploy their air and missile defense systems there, and we’ll launch an Oreshnik missile at the target. We’re ready for such an experiment," Putin declared, directly challenging Western analysts and governments.
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