Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed U.S. President Donald Trump's description of Russia as a "paper tiger" on the 2nd, stating, "A paper tiger... So what? Attempt to challenge this paper tiger."
Putin made these comments during a speech at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, located on the Black Sea, where he claimed that Russian troops are currently making progress across all fronts in Ukraine and that almost all NATO members, led by the United States, are opposing Russia.
Putin questioned, "If we are a 'paper tiger' despite confronting and making progress against the entire NATO alliance with assurance, then what exactly is NATO?" He suggested that NATO, which is unable to overcome a 'paper tiger,' might be even less significant than one.
He further mentioned that should Russia view actions as provocative, such as the U.S. supplying Tomahawk long-range cruise missiles, it would react quickly in Europe, and he added, “Anyone who wants to challenge us militarily is welcome to try. Russia's response will not be delayed.”
Putin stated, “Ukraine cannot use Tomahawk missiles without the direct participation of U.S. military staff,” and noted, “The delivery of these missiles represents a significantly higher level of tension, particularly in Russia-U.S. relations.”
The war in Ukraine by Russia represents not only the most severe conflict in Europe since World War II, but also the most significant clash between the Western world and Russia since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis.
Putin stated that the present circumstances represent a 'critical moment' in relations between Russia and the West, noting that NATO has increased its membership since 1991, following the collapse of the Soviet Union, thereby entering Russia's area of influence and causing embarrassment to the nation.
Although Trump had earlier claimed that Ukraine needed to give up territories taken by Russia in order to achieve a peace deal, he recently changed his position, saying, “Ukraine can regain all territories from Russia,” and described Russia as a “paper tiger.”
Putin also condemned NATO nations for supplying Ukraine with intelligence, arms, and instruction, and alleged they were promoting "baseless alarm" regarding Russia's supposed intention to strike NATO members.
Putin said, "I would like to tell you to stay calm, rest peacefully, think about your own problems, and observe the situation happening in the streets of European cities."
Putin stated that the Ukrainian armed forces are experiencing significant personnel shortages and widespread desertions, while Russia has adequate forces, and Ukraine will ultimately accept talks for a ceasefire.
Putin stated that Russia has control over almost all of Luhansk Oblast and 81% of Donetsk Oblast within the Donbas area of eastern Ukraine, as well as 75% of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions in the south-east.
As per objective surveys, Russia now controls 19% of Ukraine's entire territory (including the Crimean Peninsula) and has taken over an extra 4,750 square kilometers (approximately eight times the area of Seoul) in the last year.
In terms of interactions with the United States, Putin admitted that conflicts over global matters are typical, but he mentioned that the meeting with Trump at the Anchorage U.S. military base on August 15 last month involved "practically no discussion. It yielded no outcomes and was shallow."
Putin mentioned that the two-sided relations are "not only stuck but at their most difficult point in my recollection."
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