Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday implied his preparedness for a missile duel with the US to show Russia’s supremacy with regards to the US missile defense system by its new Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile.
Russia first used an Oreshnik missile at a Ukrainian city, Dnipro on November 21 in retaliation of Ukraine’s first use of British Storm Shadows and U.S. ATACMs ballistic missiles to target Russian territory with Western approval.
Putin mentioned that though based on previous Russian design developments Oreshnik should be considered as a modern weapon. Responding to the skepticism on Oreshnik by the West, Putin proposed both sides choose a designated space that would be protected by US missiles and subtly suggested Russia’s readiness for it.
