The Kremlin, commenting on Trump's words:
Russia is not a tiger, but a bear, and there are no paper bears
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a comment on US President Donald Trump's recent statements regarding Russia that Russia is not a tiger, but a bear, and there are no "paper bears".
This came after Trump
- in a post on the social media platform Truth Social yesterday
- questioned Russia's military and economic capabilities
- describing it as a "paper tiger,"
claiming that it has been
"fighting aimlessly"
- for three and a half years in Ukraine, and that Kiev is capable of
- regaining "all its territory within its original borders"
- with the support of Europe and NATO.
Peskov said in an interview with Russian radio
"RBK" today:
"Russia's image is linked to the bear, and there are no paper bears".
Peskov added that it is not possible to agree with everything issued by Trump, but he stressed that the US President shows political will to find ways to resolve the Ukrainian crisis, which Russia and its president personally welcome.
Peskov pointed out that
- what is happening in Ukraine is a special military operation
- while what is happening around Russia in general is a war
- stressing that "Russia will inevitably win the war".
The Kremlin spokesman explained that
Russia is advancing the Russian military operation in
Ukraine cautiously to reduce losses, and that the movements of Russian forces on the front are well studied, adding that the number of volunteers to participate in the Russian military operation in Ukraine is high.
He pointed out that Ukrainian forces
are suffering heavy losses, and that the dynamics on the front show that those who do not want to negotiate now will have a much worse situation tomorrow, as the Russian armed forces advance confidently along the entire front line.
Peskov recalled that
Putin had repeatedly offered to resolve the root causes of the conflict in Ukraine peacefully, but Europe and the United States responded with a harsh refusal.
Peskov pointed out that
- Vladimir Zelensky does not need negotiations
- or a settlement, but rather came to New York to
- beg for money and weapons to continue the bloodshed.
He considered that
Kiev's attempt to attack Moscow before Zelensky and Trump's meeting in New York falls within the context of a public relations campaign, stressing that Moscow is tightly protected by air defense systems.
Negotiations with Ukraine
- Peskov touched on multiple Ukrainian proposals regarding
- a possible place for Putin and Zelensky to meet
- noting that Kiev began evading
after Putin's
statements about his readiness to meet Zelensky in Moscow.
Peskov stated that Switzerland
and Austria are no longer de facto neutral for Russia, and continued by asking why Zelensky does not come to Moscow if he is already open to dialogue?
Peskov pointed out that
- Kiev has not yet responded to the proposal to form working groups in
- the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and that it has not expressed
- any desire to do so, stressing, however, that this proposal is still on the table.
Russian economy
Regarding the situation in the Russian economy, which Trump described as catastrophic, Peskov said that the Russian economy has been rebuilt in many respects to meet the needs of the Russian military operation in Ukraine
stressing that
- all the needs of
- the Russian armed forces
- are met easily and in surplus.
He pointed out that
the draft budget for the period from 2026-2028 was balanced, the security of all social obligations in Russia will be fully fulfilled, and macroeconomic stability in Russia is fully guaranteed.
Russian-American relations
Peskov also touched on Russian-American relations, noting that it is in the interest of both parties to bring them out of their slumber and improve economic relations.
He added that resuming trade and economic cooperation between Russia and the United States is beneficial to American business, and Trump is fully aware of this.
Peskov considered it
a mistake to wait for immediate progress in resolving
the differences between Russia and the United States
and pointed out that
Putin and Trump defend the interests of their countries, but he made it clear that Putin and Trump in general are on good terms and have known each other for a long time, and that they treat each other with respect and warmth.