Russia says it’s a real bear after Trump’s 'paper tiger' swipe as Ukraine praise grows

WASHINGTON — The Kremlin pushed back on President Trump’s characterization of Russia as a "paper tiger," insisting instead that Moscow is a "bear" with real military heft even after its struggle to subdue Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told RBC Radio that "Russia is by no means a tiger. Russia is traditionally seen as a bear. There is no such thing as paper bears. Russia is a real bear," adding, "There is nothing paper about it." The exchange comes as Kyiv seeks to sustain international support in its defense against the 3 1/2-year war that has shaped headlines across the globe.

Trump’s social-media posts offered a starkly different framing. On Truth Social he argued that Russia has failed to capitalize on its military advantages, writing, "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." He added that this performance makes Moscow look like a "paper tiger" and asserted that "Putin and Russia are in BIG Economic trouble, and this is the time for Ukraine to act." He closed with a pledge that he would continue to provide weapons to NATO for NATO to determine how to use them, saying, "We will continue to supply weapons to NATO for NATO to do what they want with them." [Image]

On Tuesday, Trump dramatically declared for the first time that he now believes Ukraine can fully repel Russian invaders to reclaim all of its land and perhaps go further than that. The comments appeared in the broader context of a long-running back-and-forth about how the United States, its allies, and Ukraine should respond to Moscow’s campaign, a debate that has swirled through the halls of Washington and across Europe. The former president’s stance aligns with a more muscular posture toward Kyiv and a willingness to maintain or even widen Western weapons deliveries, a point he emphasized in earlier statements while deriding Russia’s battlefield performance as inadequate.

The remarks follow years of intensive fighting since Russia’s invasion began and come as Kyiv presses for steady security assistance from Western partners. While President Trump’s statements have drawn attention in Washington, they also reflect a broader discourse about how to assess Moscow’s capabilities versus its strategic aims in Ukraine. Kyiv has repeatedly argued that outside support remains essential to regaining control over territory and deterring further Russian offensives, and American and European officials have underscored that support in various forums, even as questions about scope and longevity persist.

The exchange illustrates the ongoing tension between U.S. political discourse and the realities of the war as viewed by Moscow. Peskov’s insistence that Russia is a real bear underscores the Kremlin’s narrative of resilience and deterrence, even amid economic strains and battlefield setbacks. Washington’s response to these dynamics—whether through diplomacy, sanctions, or security aid—continues to shape the balance of pressure and support in a conflict that remains among the most consequential international flashpoints.

For Kyiv, the evolving rhetoric from Washington matters as it seeks to sustain and potentially expand Western military assistance. The Ukrainian government has framed its defense as a fight for sovereignty and regional stability, reinforcing calls for continued weapons flows and training from NATO partners. Analysts have noted that while rhetoric from major U.S. figures can influence public sentiment and political dynamics, concrete policy steps—funding levels, timelines for aid, and interoperability with Western systems—will ultimately determine Kyiv’s battlefield capabilities and the pace at which it can regain territory. As the war persists, both Moscow’s stated posture and Western responses will continue to shape the strategic calculus facing Kyiv, Moscow, and the broader international community.