Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed his willingness to meet with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump "anytime" to discuss a potential peace deal for Ukraine. Speaking during his annual end-of-year press conference, Putin emphasized his readiness for negotiations and compromises, noting that such a meeting could address a wide range of issues.

Trump, set to return to the White House in January, has previously suggested his ability to broker a Ukraine peace deal within hours, raising concerns in Kyiv about a potential agreement favoring Moscow.

Kursk Region Uncertainty
During the session, Putin acknowledged challenges on the battlefield despite recent advances by Russian forces in eastern Ukraine. He admitted uncertainty about when Russian troops would reclaim the western Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces launched an incursion in August, displacing thousands of residents.

"We will absolutely kick them out... But the question of a specific date, I’m sorry, I cannot say right now," Putin stated, responding to a resident's inquiry.

Economic Challenges and Sanctions
The Russian leader faced tough questions about the nation's economic stability amid mounting military expenditures and labor shortages caused by the ongoing conflict. Putin claimed the economy remains "stable" with low unemployment and industrial growth but conceded that inflation, especially rising food prices, is a "worrying signal."

While downplaying the impact of Western sanctions, Putin criticized the central bank for focusing solely on raising interest rates to combat inflation, suggesting additional measures were necessary.

Hypersonic Missile Challenge
Putin reiterated his confidence in Russia's military capabilities, proposing a "hi-tech duel" to test the prowess of the country's hypersonic ballistic missile, Oreshnik. He suggested launching the missile at a target in Kyiv to prove its imperviousness to Western air defenses.

"Let them set some target to be hit... And we will launch an Oreshnik strike there and see what happens," Putin said, underscoring his provocative stance.

Security Concerns After General's Assassination
In his first comments on the assassination of senior Russian military official Igor Kirillov in Moscow, Putin labeled the act as "terrorism" and criticized security services for failing to prevent such incidents. Kirillov, the head of Russia's chemical weapons unit, was killed by a bomb placed in a scooter—a bold attack attributed to Kyiv.

"Our special services are missing these hits," Putin admitted, citing other recent security lapses and calling for improvements to prevent similar occurrences.

Syria and Assad's Fall
Addressing the recent fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Putin rejected claims that it marked a defeat for Russia.

"You want to present what is happening in Syria as a defeat for Russia. I assure you it is not," Putin insisted, highlighting Russia's intervention a decade ago to prevent the establishment of a terrorist enclave.

He also called for Israel to withdraw its forces from Syrian territory, framing the Middle Eastern power as the "main beneficiary" of the current developments.

Outlook on Trump Talks
Putin's openness to meeting Trump reflects his interest in negotiating from a position of strength, with Russian forces continuing their military campaign in Ukraine. As both leaders prepare for potential discussions, the global community watches closely for developments that could reshape the conflict’s trajectory.