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Vladimir Putin has proposed a “duel” with the US using Russia’s new Oreshnik hypersonic missile. The suggestion, part of a scenario of growing tension in the war in Ukraine, rekindles the alarm over global military escalation.
At a time marked by global tensions and a unprecedented military escalation, Vladimir Putin launched a proposal that took the world by surprise and further increased the climate of geopolitical uncertainty.
The idea of a missile “duel” between Russia and the United States, suggested by the Russian president, goes beyond a simple show of force.
It carries strategic implications that could shape the balance of power between the two largest nuclear powers on the planet.
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Putin not only defended the superiority of Russian technology, but suggested a direct experiment that would challenge American missile defense systems.
The statement was accompanied by a practical demonstration: the launch of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile in Ukraine.
The proposal and its possible consequences have reignited the debate over the arms race and the future of East-West relations.
Oreshnik: the new weapon in the arms race
During a statement made last Thursday (19), Vladimir Putin proposed an experiment that consists of selecting targets protected by US missile defense systems.
These targets would serve as a testing ground for Russia's Oreshnik hypersonic missile, which Putin says is capable of overcoming any Western technological barriers.
“We are ready for such an experiment,” the Russian president said, in a tone that mixed defiance and confidence.
Putin stressed that while the Oreshnik is the result of recent innovations, its design basis goes back decades of Russian military development.
According to information released by international agencies, the Oreshnik was used for the first time in an attack on the city of Dnipro, Ukraine, on November 21, 2024.
The projectile, equipped with conventional warheads, demonstrated its precision and lethality capabilities.
However, the most alarming aspect is that it could also be configured to carry nuclear weapons, raising the risks of an unprecedented escalation in the conflict.
War in Ukraine: A conflict with no end in sight
The backdrop to this proposed “duel” is the war in Ukraine, which since February 2022 has turned into a battlefield between Russia and the Western powers, which support the Ukrainian government.
The Russian invasion, launched on three fronts — Crimea, Belarus and the Russian border — marked one of the most dramatic moments in recent history.
In the early days of the conflict, Putin's troops advanced rapidly, but Ukrainian resistance managed to contain the offensive at strategic points, including the capital, Kiev.
Since then, the conflict has dragged on, resulting in thousands of deaths, millions of refugees and widespread destruction in several regions of Ukraine.
By October 2024, analysts began describing the war as the most dangerous moment since its beginning.
Russia, under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, has stepped up its use of advanced weaponry, including hypersonic missiles, while Ukraine has begun to directly attack Russian territory with weapons supplied by the United States, the United Kingdom and France.
The West's response and Russia's new alliances
Putin's proposal comes against a backdrop of Russia's growing diplomatic isolation. Since the start of the invasion, Moscow has been subject to a series of economic sanctions and has been the target of international condemnation.
However, the Kremlin has sought new allies, including North Korea, which Western intelligence says has sent troops to help Russian forces in Ukraine.
Although Moscow and Pyongyang have not officially confirmed military cooperation, analysts say that this alliance represents a new axis of influence on the global stage.
Furthermore, Russia has strengthened its partnership with China, which, although it avoids direct involvement in the conflict, maintains political and economic support for the Kremlin.
Meanwhile, the United States and its NATO allies have stepped up their deployment of modern weapons to Ukraine, making the conflict increasingly technological and unpredictable.
The introduction of ATACMS and Storm Shadow missiles to the battlefield has increased Ukraine's ability to strike targets on Russian territory, forcing Moscow to take more drastic measures.
The impact of the arms race on the global future
The proposal for a “duel” between hypersonic missiles symbolizes more than a dispute between powers.
It highlights the intensification of the arms race, which has dominated the global scene since the beginning of the 21st century.
Experts warn that the development of increasingly sophisticated military technologies could trigger a new Cold War, putting global security at risk.
Furthermore, the possibility of using nuclear weapons amid growing tensions raises an alert for international organizations.
Despite mediation attempts by the UN and neutral countries such as Türkiye and Switzerland, peace negotiations remain stalled.
As military analysts point out, Vladimir Putin's stance reflects an effort to reassert Russia's leadership on the geopolitical stage, while also pressuring the West to reconsider its support for Ukraine.
However, the cost of this strategy can be high, both in economic and human terms.
And you, do you think Putin's challenge is just rhetoric or a sign of an even more dangerous confrontation in the future? Leave your opinion in the comments!
