A CHILDISH Vladimir Putin has offered out the US to a bizarre "missile duel" involving his Orshenik rockets during his annual strange call-in.
The Russian dictator lived up to his typical boastful nature as he rambled on about Donald Trump and even claimed Russia hasn't lost in Syria despite the embarrassing rebel siege on his pal Assad.
The tightly choreographed press conference has become part of Vlad's calendar as it gives him a chance to speak to his brainwashed fans.
It is broadcast live by state-controlled TV and gives the ageing tyrant an easy opportunity to reinforce his powerful image of control.
The weird address saw Putin try to flex his muscles towards the West as he spoke on his self-proclaimed unbeatable Oreshnik missile.
Western scepticism around its strength has angered Vlad ever since he first used the weapon on Ukraine, earlier this year.
A brash Putin doubled down on his belief that his new toy is the most effective weapon around as he suggested testing out Nato's defence systems.
Vlad called on Ukraine to take part in a bizarre weapons duel where both sides shot their best missile in the air towards a designated target.
He then mockingly challenged the US to see which of the rockets they could take down first before it obliterated everything in its path.
An awkwardly grinning Putin said: "Let’s run this experiment, a technological duel.
"We’ll see what happens, I think both us and them will find the results interesting."
Key takeaways from Vlad's bizarre address
The twisted tyrant then also spoke on incoming president Donald Trump who he hopes will favour Russia when he enters the White House next month.
Putin said he is ready to sit down and speak to Trump "anytime" about their future relationship and the situation in Europe.
The pair had a good relationship in Trump's first stint in office with the Republican managing to keep Russia under control for the most part.
When Trump was ousted by Joe Biden in 2020, Vlad soon began hatching his plan to illegally storm across the border with Ukraine.
Almost three years on Russia is continuing to battle with Ukraine in their faltering invasion.
Speaking about a possible meeting with Trump in January, Putin said: "I don't know when I'm going to see him. He isn't saying anything about it.
"I haven't talked to him in more than four years. I am ready for it, of course. Anytime.
"If we ever have a meeting with President-elect Trump, I am sure we'll have a lot to talk about."
In a rare sign of honesty, Vlad even admitted that he is willing to accept "negotiations and compromises" when it comes to Ukraine.
As his endless confidence continued to brew, Putin made a strange statement claiming that Russia was still in control of Syria.
He even strongly declared that his men were definitely not defeated.
He announced to the TV audience: "You want to portray everything that is happening in Syria as some kind of failure, a defeat for Russia.
"I assure you, it is not."
This comes just days after hoards of Russian soldiers were seen fleeing the country after a decade of bloodshed under Assad's rule.
Military convoys draped in Russian flags were seen rushing past Syrian rebels as they seized control of the war torn nation with ease.
Despite the fall of his dictator crony, Putin has remained tight-lipped over the situation in the Middle East.
Vlad is believed to have orchestrated Assad's escape and allowed him to seek refugee near the Kremlin.
Putin first sent his forces to Syria some nine years ago to help keep Assad in power during unrest in the country.
Together they are responsible for killing thousands of Syrians throughout the bloody civil war that started in 2012.
Putin was also placed under pressure to address questions around his brutal war with Ukraine which has now reached its third winter.
Speaking about the ongoing conflict, Putin said: "The situation is changing dramatically. We’re moving along the entire front line every day."
“We’re moving toward fulfilling the key objectives that we outlined at the start of the special military operation."
The tyrant claimed that Russian forces are now capturing “square kilometres” of Ukrainian territory - and are "heroically" flushing out Kyiv's troops in Kursk.
By Georgie English, Foreign News Reporter
VLADIMIR Putin's bizarre call-in event sums up the dictator's nature as he appeared to spend several hours trying to convince himself and his people that Russia is still in a strong position.
This comes after his war in Ukraine has continuously faltered, his closest foreign ally in Assad was swiftly overthrown and his troops (including North Korean cannon fodder) continue to be killed.
Today's strange event is known as Putin's annual address.
In it he answers dozens of questions from Russian civilians in a marathon news conference while also touching on his plans for the future.
It is typically seen as his final yearly round-up but is often used to reinforce his authority and demonstrate sweeping control of the country’s political scene.
This year he touched on a number of subjects from the handpicked questions with Syria and Ukraine both major talking points.
He admitted to being open over having conversations with Ukraine to try and find an end to the conflict after almost three long years.
In a rare sign of honesty, Vlad said he is willing to accept "negotiations and compromises" when it comes to the war.
But his arrogance quickly shone through again as he sensationally claimed Assad's downfall in Syria isn't a defeat for Russia.
This comes just days after hoards of Russian soldiers were seen fleeing the country - following in Assad's footsteps who sneaked away days earlier.
His address was predictably devoid of any tougher questions - with Assad's whereabouts and his thoughts on the North Korean troops on the frontlines notably absent.
One unusual remark centred around Donald Trump who Vlad seemed to be trying to convince to speak to him in the coming weeks.
Putin said he is happy to talk "anytime" with the president-elect and is ready to discuss ceasefire plans in Ukraine.
A few moments later his lashing tongue reappeared as he threw a punch at America and teased them with his menacing missile arsenal.
The ageing tyrant even offered the US a chance to compare weapons in a bizarre "missile duel".
The final interesting point from the mega call was around how Vlad seemed to open up about his private life for the first time in years.
He mentioned his “little ones” as a beaming smile appeared across his face.
The comments are a big deal for the Kremlin after months of reports claiming he has two secret sons with a much younger lover.
It could potentially hint towards a changed version of Vlad as a more family friendly leader as he enters the next phase of his presidency.
Vlad has lost hundreds of thousands of thousands of soldiers as his flailing invasion continues to stutter.
He has also now deployed troops from North Korea who are now fighting alongside the Russian forces against Ukraine in the Kursk region.
However, troops from Pyongyang have suffered "several hundred" casualties while fighting in the last few weeks, according to US officials.
One US official said: "Several hundred casualties is our latest estimate that the DPRK has suffered.
"This includes everything from... light wounds up to being KIA [killed in action]."
Other topics at the conference included questions regarding Russia's health care system, infrastructure and social benefits.
Putin even boasted about Russia's economic performance, which he assured was "stable and developing".
He said: "With the economy as a whole, the situation in Russia is stable, despite external threats and attempts to influence us."
However, experts believe Russia's economy has taken a huge blow because of the Ukraine war - something Putin has been reluctant to address.
FOOTAGE from Syria shows hordes of Vladimir Putin's troops fleeing the country in military trucks after a decade of bloodshed.
Satellite pics captured by Maxar and Planet Labs show at least two Antonov AN-124s, one of the world's largest cargo planes, at the Khmeimim air base.
The huge jets were stationed with their nose cones open - allowing for Vlad's men to pile in dismantled army kit.
Three Il-76 transport aircraft, Russia’s workhorse heavy lifters, were also on the ground.
And three An-32s and one An-72, smaller models of transport aircraft, were visible in the satellite images.
An analyst at Maxar noted that a Ka-52 attack helicopter "was being dismantled and likely prepared for transport".
Parts of an S-400 air defence unit were also seen breaking up for a return to Mother Russia.
Putin's naval base at Tartous, Russia's only Mediterranean repair and replenishment hub, "remains largely unchanged", Maxar added.
Moscow has backed Syria since the early days of the Cold War, recognising its independence in 1944 as Damascus sought to throw off French colonial rule.
The West long regarded Syria as a Soviet satellite.
The Kremlin has said its focus since Assad's fall was to ensure the security of its military bases in Syria and of its diplomatic missions.
