Russia responds with restraint to Trump 'paper tiger' claim as Ukraine war persists

Russia offered a restrained response to Donald Trump’s assertion that Moscow is a “paper tiger” and that Ukraine could reclaim all territory seized by Russia, even as the war in Ukraine continues. The Kremlin’s initial reply avoided threats or ultimatums, focusing instead on diplomacy and a continued push toward a peace settlement.

President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, pushed back on the most provocative phrases, saying: “Russia is in no way a tiger. It’s more associated with a bear. And there is no such thing as a paper bear.” He also dismissed the idea that Ukraine could win back territory by fighting as mistaken. In a Kremlin conference call with reporters, Peskov noted that Moscow values President Trump’s stated willingness to pursue peace, adding that Russia would have opportunities to present its position to the American side. He pointed to a potential meeting between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York during the United Nations General Assembly.

The Kremlin’s guarded posture also drew on an analysis in Izvestiya, which argued that Trump’s stance could shift because his views are influenced by the last person he spoke to — in this case, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. Still, Peskov underscored that Moscow would convey its position in New York and that diplomacy remained on the table as battles continued on the ground.

Trump’s remarks about NATO and airspace drew a sharper line of potential confrontation. When asked whether NATO countries should shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace, Trump replied, “Yes, I do.” Peskov responded with a denial that Russia had committed any airspace violations and rejected claims of a “hysteria” about Russian pilots. He said the charges were groundless and without proof, suggesting a deliberate attempt to inflame tensions rather than reflect verifiable incidents. At the same time, Trump’s comments about Russia’s economy painted a bleak picture that Moscow rejected. Russian officials argued that the economy is not collapsing but is under pressure from sanctions and wartime spending, with growing deficits and falling revenues from oil and gas.

Analysts have noted that while Russia has endured more than three years of sanctions and sustained wartime expenditure, the Kremlin has kept a steady line that the mission in Ukraine continues. The latest remarks from Trump did not carry new sanctions threats, deadlines, or punitive ultimatums aimed at Moscow, which may have influenced the Kremlin’s measured reception. When asked whether he still trusts Vladimir Putin, Trump answered, “I’ll let you know in about a month from now,” a timeline that the Kremlin likely viewed as a fluid political signal rather than a binding commitment.

Economic reporting inside Russia has highlighted a strain that includes a growing budget deficit and weaker state revenue from hydrocarbons, alongside domestic fuel-distribution challenges linked to Ukrainian drone strikes on refineries. Independent media and some tabloid outlets have cited petrol shortages in certain regions, though there has been no indication that the broader economy is on the verge of collapse. Officials have framed these pressures as temporary frictions within a larger strategy to press on with military objectives while pursuing a peace settlement in parallel.

Putin, for his part, appears determined to press forward with the war as Ukraine remains on the defense, and foreign policy messaging has emphasized resilience rather than concession. The Kremlin’s calculus remains focused on sustaining capabilities on the battlefield while leveraging diplomatic channels to advance Moscow’s preferred terms for ending the conflict. The interplay between Trump’s comments and Moscow’s response reflects a broader pattern: the Kremlin often welcomes occasional criticisms from Washington but steadies itself against any shifts that might alter Moscow’s strategic course.

In diplomatic terms, Lavrov’s engagement with U.S. officials on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly remains a focal point for Moscow. Russian officials have signaled a willingness to “convey our position” through official channels and face-to-face discussions, underscoring a preference for measured diplomacy over loud rhetoric. As the war drags on, Moscow’s communications strategy seeks to balance the message that Russia will not concede ground while keeping open a path to negotiated settlement, contingent on terms Moscow views as favorable.

The international phase at the UN offers a venue for presenting Moscow’s case to Western interlocutors, even as the battlefield dynamics in Ukraine evolve. The Kremlin’s stance—calm, calculated, and focused on peacemaking through dialogue—appears designed to manage volatility at home and abroad while preserving leverage in a protracted confrontation. Trump’s remarks, and the Kremlin’s careful reaction, illustrate the continuing complexity of U.S.-Russia-Ukrainian dynamics as both sides calibrate their next moves in a conflict that shows no immediate signs of a decisive end.