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When a BBC reporter inquired whether he had taken care of Russia as requested by Boris Yeltsin before he passed on the presidency in late 1999, Putin confirmed that he had fulfilled this responsibility.
“We have moved back from the edge of the abyss,” Putin said.
“I have done everything to ensure that Russia is an independent and sovereign power that is able to make decisions in its own interests.”
Russia, Putin said, had made proposals to Syria’s new rulers about Russia’s military bases there. He said most people Moscow had spoken to on the issue favored them staying.
Russia would need to think about whether the bases should remain or not, he added, but rumors about the death of Russian influence in the Middle East were exaggerated.
Putin touted what he said was the invincibility of the “Oreshnik” hypersonic missile that Russia has already test-fired at a Ukrainian military factory, saying he was ready to organize another launch at Ukraine and see if Western air defense systems could shoot it down.
In Brussels, Zelenskyy addressed Putin’s missile suggestion during a press conference at a European Council meeting, remarking of Putin, “Do you think he is a sane person?”
