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Donald Trump called Russia a paper tiger after meeting Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Vladimir Putin responded, questioning Trump’s intent and warning swift action if Europe provokes Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said he did not know if US President was “ironic” and Moscow would respond swiftly if it thinks Europe is provoking it. (AP photo)
Days after Donald Trump called Russia a “paper tiger”, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday said he did not know if US President was “ironic” and Moscow would respond swiftly if it thinks Europe is provoking it.
Last week, Trump said that Ukraine could win back all territory from Russia and labelled Moscow a “paper tiger”.
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In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years with Ukraine, and it is very much making them look like “a paper tiger.”
“After gaining a thorough understanding of the military and economic situation in Ukraine and Russia, and considering the economic troubles it is causing Russia, I believe Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and win back all of Ukraine in its original form… Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years a War that should have taken a Real Military Power less than a week to win. This is not distinguishing Russia. In fact, it is very much making them look like ‘a paper tiger’,” he said.
Trump’s remark came after he met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
Reuters quoted Putin as saying at the Valdai Discussion Group in the Black Sea resort of Sochi that Russian forces were advancing along the entire front in Ukraine, and that almost all of the US-led NATO alliance was now fighting against Russia.
“A paper tiger. What follows then? Go and deal with this paper tiger,” Putin said. “Well if we are fighting with the entire NATO bloc, we are moving, advancing, and we feel confident, and we are a ‘paper tiger’, then what is NATO itself?”
“If anyone still has a desire to compete with us in the military sphere, as we say, feel free, let them try,” Putin said. “Russia’s countermeasures will not be long in coming.”
He further said that the NATO members were providing intelligence, weapons and training to Ukraine.
Russia
October 02, 2025, 23:58 IST
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