Russian President Vladimir Putin recently described U.S. President-elect Donald Trump as an “intelligent politician“ who can find a way to end the ongoing war. However, he also voiced serious concerns about the safety of Trump himself, who has survived numerous attempts at assassination of former U.S. presidents.
The meeting was held as a live press conference from Kazakhstan with Putin pointing to several situations where Trump‘s safety has been compromised. He named the July shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania during a rally for his presidential campaign which left him gravely wounded after being grazed by a bullet. He then mentioned an arrest in September at Trump‘s Mar-A-Lago estate in Florida where a suspect was reported to be shooting at one of Trump‘s golf courses.
Putin condemned these acts, describing them as “uncivilised” and expressing his shock at the level of criticism Trump and his family endured during the election campaign. While acknowledging Trump’s intelligence, Putin cautioned that the President-elect remained at risk, urging him to take precautions.
“I believe the newly elected president is an intelligent and experienced person who will eventually find a solution,” Putin said, adding, “However, I must emphasise that he is not safe.”
Putin also speculated that the United States may be escalating tensions with Russia, particularly in light of President Biden’s recent decisions to provide Ukraine with more military aid. The Russian president suggested that such actions could be part of a strategy to either give Trump a challenge to reverse or complicate his potential relationship with Russia.
Despite these concerns, Putin reiterated that Russia remains open to dialogue, signalling a potential willingness to engage diplomatically, especially in the context of the ongoing war.
In a separate but equally concerning development, Putin issued a stark warning regarding Russia’s new missile technology. He indicated that Russia might use its advanced Oreshnik missiles against Ukraine, particularly targeting Kyiv, in retaliation for continued Ukrainian strikes on Russian infrastructure.
The Oreshnik missile, a medium-range ballistic missile, was recently deployed in an attack on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. Putin explained that the missile is capable of carrying multiple warheads and is considered one of Russia’s most formidable weapons, with destructive power comparable to that of a nuclear strike if used repeatedly on a single target.
While the Oreshnik missiles are not currently equipped with nuclear warheads, Putin emphasised that they could be used to target Ukraine’s military, industrial facilities, and key decision-making centers. The potential use of such weapons comes as Ukraine receives long-range missile supplies from Western allies, including the U.S., UK, and France.
The ongoing developments mark an escalation in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with global powers like the United States and Russia continuing to manoeuvre for influence. While Trump’s potential return to office remains uncertain, Putin’s comments suggest a high-stakes geopolitical environment, where both military and diplomatic strategies are being carefully calculated.
With Trump promising to end the war within 24 hours of taking office, the international community is left waiting to see how these complex dynamics unfold and whether a resolution will be achieved or further hostilities will arise.
