Russian President Vladimir Putin pushed back on Thursday against U.S. President Donald Trump’s characterization of Russia as a “paper tiger,” countering that it may, in fact, be NATO that fits that description. He also cautioned that U.S. plans to supply Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would mark a dangerous escalation of the conflict.
Addressing the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, Putin said Russian troops were advancing along the entire front line in Ukraine and accused nearly the entire NATO alliance of being directly involved in fighting against Russia.
The war in Ukraine — the deadliest in Europe since World War II — has driven relations between Moscow and the West to their lowest point since the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. Russian officials now describe the confrontation as an open “hot” conflict with the West.
Trump, who earlier suggested Ukraine should cede territory to end the war, reversed his position last week, claiming that Kyiv could win back all occupied land and deriding Moscow as a “paper tiger.” He reiterated the remark again this week.