Russian President Vladimir Putin has responded strongly to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent description of Russia as a “paper tiger,” turning the criticism on NATO during his speech at the Valdai Discussion Group in Sochi.
The exchange follows Trump’s comments last week on social media, after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Trump had asserted that with European support, Ukraine could reclaim all of its territory, insisting Russia was fighting “aimlessly” for more than three years in a war that “a real military power should have ended in less than a week.”
Putin’s Response
In his address on Thursday, Putin questioned whether Trump’s choice of words was meant to be ironic.
“A paper tiger. What follows then? Go and deal with this paper tiger,” Putin said.
The Russian leader added:
“If we are fighting the entire NATO bloc, and yet advancing confidently, and we are still a ‘paper tiger,’ then what exactly is NATO?”
NATO, Ukraine, and the West
Putin stressed that Russian forces were making progress across the Ukrainian frontlines, while accusing NATO countries of direct involvement in the war by supplying Kyiv with intelligence, weapons, and training.
He further warned that Moscow would not hesitate to respond to any perceived provocations from Europe:
“If they wish to compete with us in the military sphere, let them try. Our countermeasures will not be long in coming.”
The statement underscores the ongoing tension between Moscow and Western allies, even as the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year.
No
Just bluffing