Zelensky slams Putin's 'high-tech duel' as absurd fantasy

During Putin's extensive press conference, which lasted over four hours and included carefully selected and prepared questions, he proposed a "high-tech duel".

Vladimir Putin suggested that the West and Ukraine specify a target in Kyiv. Russia would then attack it with the Oreshnik missile while air and missile defence systems try to intercept it. Putin has previously claimed that no system can shoot down his allegedly innovative missile.

"Let them choose a target, say, in Kiev, and amass their air and missile defence systems there, while we will launch an Oreshnik missile at the target. We’ll see what happens. We are ready for such an experiment,," Putin stated.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, responded to these remarks.

"Do you see who we are dealing with? Today, the Kremlin's ‘comrade’ said that Russia is offering a technological duel. He [Putin] said: ‘We'll hit Kyiv with the Oreshnik missile somewhere and [Ukraine] can try to intercept it. And let's see what happens.’ Do you think this is a mentally stable person? They are just mental," replied Zelensky during a press conference in Brussels.

Zelensky also addressed the topic of the Istanbul agreements. Putin accuses Ukraine of not wanting to sign them.

Zelensky remarked that such agreements did not exist. "They wanted to annihilate our army so the army did not exist (40-50,000 only). So he was just suggesting to Ukraine to give up, to freeze the conflict, to change the direction of their future, not Nato, not Europe, but directing itself to Russia to take our independence, to deprive the future. And this person is now telling us that these are agreements. He (Putin) is an old fantasizer. He lives in a different world. He lives in his own aquarium I am afraid," Zelensky explained.