New threats were launched today by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, who warned that if necessary, Russia will again use the Oresnik missile and more powerful medium-range missiles.

“We do not rule out the possibility of using it today and tomorrow, if necessary,” Putin said of the new supersonic medium-range ballistic missile.

At the same time, the Russian president said that Russia seeks to end the war in Ukraine, while he said that Slovakia is ready to host the peace talks.

Vladimir Putin also said that there is no time this year to sign a new agreement on natural gas transit.

In particular, he stressed that it is impossible to sign a new agreement with Ukraine just a few days before the New Year, noting that Russia is ready to supply natural gas through Ukraine to any customer, but a lawsuit makes this impossible.

Russia has said it would be ready to extend the transit agreement, but Kiev has repeatedly said it will not. In fact, commenting on the specific decision of Kiev, Putin said that Ukraine is punishing Europe.

The Russian president also reiterated that Russia is ready to supply gas to Europe via Poland through the Yamal – Europe pipeline.

Biden had proposed in 2021 to “postpone for 10-15 years” Ukraine’s accession to NATO

Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that his American counterpart Joe Biden had proposed to him in 2021 to “postpone Ukraine’s accession to NATO by 10-15 years.”

Joining the North Atlantic Alliance has been a long-standing request of Kiev.

“In 2021, the current President Biden proposed to me exactly this: to postpone Ukraine’s accession to NATO for 10-15 years, because the country was not yet ready,” Putin said during a televised press conference.

“I answered in a logical way ‘yes, (Ukraine) is not ready today. But you will prepare it to be ready and you will accept it’ (as a member),” Putin added.

However, for Russia, “what’s the difference? today, tomorrow or in ten years?”, stressed the Russian president.

Moscow considers Ukraine’s accession to NATO a red line.

Instead, Kiev presents membership in the North Atlantic Alliance as necessary for its security vis-à-vis Russia and requests an invitation to join as soon as possible.

The Ukrainian leadership, however, has acknowledged that its accession could come after the war with Russia, triggered by the Russian invasion in February 2022.

Washington and Berlin in particular are wary of any prospect of Ukraine’s rapid accession to NATO.

In early December, the Kremlin warned again that Ukraine’s accession to NATO would constitute an “unacceptable” threat to Russia.