**Putin's Military Threats Escalate Tensions Over Ukraine Conflict**

In a recent press conference held in Astana, Kazakhstan, Russian President Vladimir Putin intensified his military rhetoric towards Ukraine and accused the United States and its European allies of direct involvement in the ongoing conflict. Putin warned of potential strikes on Ukrainian government and official buildings in Kyiv using Russia's new hypersonic missiles, known as Oreshnik, or 'Hazel Tree'. This threat follows Ukraine's use of American and British long-range missiles against Russian territory.

Describing the hypersonic missile system as capable of avoiding interception, Putin disclosed that it was employed last week on a weapons factory in Dnipro, an eastern Ukrainian city. In his nightly address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Putin's escalation, asserting that it was aimed at thwarting President Trump's efforts to end the war. Zelenskyy called Putin the sole culprit of the conflict and argued that the Russian leader's aggressive moves were intended to pressure the U.S. into accepting unfavorable terms.

Throughout the nearly three-year conflict, Russian forces have so far refrained from intentionally targeting key governmental buildings in Kyiv. However, after consultations with his counterparts from former Soviet nations at the Collective Security Treaty Organization summit, Putin announced that Russian military commanders were formulating a list of possible targets. These targets could include military facilities, defense infrastructure, and key decision-making centers.

The U.S. and U.K.'s decision to allow Ukraine to use their supplied weapons systems against Russia has precipitated this aggressive stance from the Kremlin. The attack on Dnipro using the Oreshnik missile was described by Zelenskyy as a "severe escalation" warranting global condemnation.

Putin also revealed an update to Russia's nuclear doctrine and highlighted the nation's superior capacity to produce advanced missile systems compared to NATO. He indicated intentions to accelerate this production further. Responding to suggestions from U.S. and European officials about arming Ukraine with nuclear weapons, Putin condemned this as a violation of non-proliferation commitments and issued a stark warning that Russia would use all available means of destruction to prevent it.

In addition, Putin characterized President-elect Donald Trump as "intelligent" and speculated that the current U.S. administration's support for Kyiv might aim either to make Trump appear more reasonable or to complicate his future dealings with Moscow. Despite these tensions, Putin expressed readiness for dialogue, confident that Trump would find a resolution.

Finally, Putin voiced concerns over Trump's safety, referencing multiple assassination attempts, including a Secret Service-confirmed attempt in Florida this September. He criticized the aggressive methods used against Trump during the electoral campaign, suggesting the incoming president remains in jeopardy.