Key Takeaways from Putin's Annual Press Conference
Investing.com -- On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his readiness for dialogue with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump while also addressing Russia's economic and military situation. Putin did not provide details on when he and Trump might meet.
During his annual press conference, Putin referred to the situation in Syria, stating that Russia had not been defeated there. He mentioned that proposals were made to the new leaders in Damascus regarding Russia's military bases in the country.
The Russian President also announced plans to meet with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, indicating that he intends to ask about the fate of missing U.S. journalist Austin Tice during this meeting.
Touching on the domestic economy, Putin acknowledged signs of overheating that have led to high inflation. While supporting the central bank's tight monetary policy, he suggested that the bank could act more swiftly.
The central bank is expected to raise its key interest rate by 200 basis points to 23% at its next meeting on Friday. This would mark the highest level in over 20 years, and the central bank's tight policy has faced criticism from the business community. Putin noted that both the government and the central bank are working to slow down the economy.
On the military front, Putin proposed a missile 'duel' with the U.S. to demonstrate the capabilities of Russia's new Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile against U.S. missile defense systems. He suggested that both countries choose a target that would be protected by U.S. missiles for this test. Putin claimed that while the Oreshnik is based on previous Russian designs, it is a modern weapon.
Putin also addressed the progress of Russian forces in Ukraine. He stated that the forces are advancing along the entire front line and are moving towards achieving their key objectives. He described the situation as "dramatically changing," highlighting daily territorial gains.
However, he asserted that due to the complexity of the conflict, it is difficult to predict future developments. Military analysts from both the West and Russia observed that Russia has advanced in eastern Ukraine more rapidly than since 2022, threatening cities that are significant logistical hubs, such as Pokrovsk.