Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sharply criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s suggestion of a “missile duel” with the United States, dismissing the idea as absurd and labelling Putin as irrational.
Speaking at a European Council meeting on Thursday, Zelenskyy addressed Putin’s remarks about testing the capabilities of Russia’s new Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile.
“Do you think he is a sane person? Bastards,” Zelenskyy remarked in response to Putin’s proposal to demonstrate the missile’s power by launching it at a target in Ukraine.

Putin’s ‘missile duel’ proposal

During his annual press conference, Putin claimed that Moscow is prepared for a “missile duel” with the United States to showcase the superiority of Russia’s Oreshnik missile system.
He proposed an experimental test where both sides would select specific targets to be defended by American missile systems, challenging US defences to intercept the Oreshnik.
“We’re ready for such an experiment,” Putin declared, asserting that the missile could bypass even the most advanced American defence technologies.
Putin emphasised that the Oreshnik missile, though modern, integrates components from older Russian designs, signifying its advancement yet rooted in tested technology.
Russia deployed the Oreshnik hypersonic missile for the first time on November 21 against the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. According to Putin, this was a retaliatory move following Ukraine’s use of the US-supplied ATACMS ballistic missiles and British Storm Shadow cruise missiles in strikes on Russian territory.