Putin took offense at the “paper tiger” and challenged NATO
Володимир Путін. Фото - Reuters
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin made some loud statements at the Valdai Forum on Thursday, October 2. He responded to US President Donald Trump’s words that Russia is a “paper tiger”, tried to justify the war against Ukraine and even mentioned Russia’s alleged readiness to join NATO in the past.
The Kremlin leader was irritated by Trump’s remarks about Russia as a “paper tiger.” In response, Putin stated that Russia is not one of those and even contrasted it with NATO, effectively provoking the West.
“If Russia is a paper tiger, then what is NATO? Go and try to deal with the paper tiger,” he said, challenging the Alliance and the West.
Separately, the Kremlin leader mentioned the war against Ukraine, cynically calling it “pain and tragedy” not only for Ukrainians, but also for Russians.
“A terrible example and the “Ukrainian tragedy”. This is pain for Ukrainians and for Russians, for all of us,” the dictator said, while simultaneously repeating propaganda theses about “Western globalists” who allegedly “incited and armed Ukraine.”
Putin also complained that Russia had twice previously proposed joining NATO – first in 1954, and the second time during Bill Clinton’s visit to Moscow.
“And both times we were actually refused, and right out of the gate,” he said, adding that the American president initially admitted such a possibility, but on the same day called it “unrealistic.”
Earlier, during a speech at the UN General Assembly, Trump called Russia a “paper tiger” and emphasized that Ukraine is capable of retaking all occupied lands if its allies show determination.
US President Donald Trump also sharply criticized Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, stating that despite massive attacks on Ukrainian cities, Moscow is suffering reputational losses and making almost no progress on the front.
The day before, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the American leader supports strikes on Russian targets – energy and oil facilities.
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