The Kremlin on Wednesday decisively rejected the core arguments behind United States President Donald Trump’s rhetorical pivot on the war in Ukraine. This rejection was met with a mix of defiance and mockery from Russian nationalists and political insiders.
Trump had stated on Tuesday that he believed Ukraine could retake all its land controlled by Russia and urged Kyiv to act now, citing Moscow’s supposed ‘big’ economic problems. However, the Kremlin swiftly countered, asserting that the Russian economy remains stable despite some sector challenges due to sanctions. They also maintained that the Russian forces’ slow but steady advance in Ukraine is part of a deliberate strategy, not a sign of weakness.
Russia Rejects ‘Paper Tiger’ Insult
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to Trump’s comment calling Russia a ‘paper tiger’ by remarking, “Russia is not a tiger but is more associated with a bear. Paper bears don’t exist.”
Despite their anger over what they perceived as insulting rhetoric from Trump, Russian nationalists and political figures interpreted his apparent change of heart as an indication that the U.S. was disengaging from the Ukraine war. They believe this signals Trump’s abandonment of his unsuccessful and unrealistic attempts to broker a swift peace deal.
Observers noted that Trump offered no new U.S. assistance to Kyiv, instead placing the responsibility firmly on Ukraine itself and the European Union. Konstantin Malofeyev, an ultra-nationalist tycoon and influential political figure, commented, “Yes, Trump suddenly told the world about his love for Ukraine. He hoped it would ‘regain the territories it had in 1991 and, who knows, maybe even go further.’ But the main point… is that the U.S. is washing its hands of the matter. The European Union will pay for everything. To put it even more simply: Trump has sent Ukraine to fight against Russia alongside Europe while buying weapons from the U.S.”
Foreign Minister to Detail Russia’s Position
Peskov acknowledged Trump’s rhetorical shift in favor of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, whom Trump met earlier in the week. He confirmed that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov would engage in discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later that day to articulate Russia’s official stance.
Reiterating that there were no issues with macro-economic stability, Peskov also dismissed Trump’s criticism of the Russian military, which the U.S. President had accused of fighting ‘aimlessly’ in Ukraine. He explained that Russia’s incremental advances were a result of a carefully considered strategy.
“We are going forward very carefully to minimize losses and so as not to destroy our offensive potential,” Peskov stated.
Dmitry Rogozin, a senator with combat experience in Ukraine, criticized Trump, suggesting his comments were intended to incite unrest. “His rhetoric is so undignified that it is difficult to imagine someone like him still in office as president of a great power,” Rogozin wrote on Telegram.
Margarita Simonyan, a prominent Russian state media executive, humorously compared Trump to a tarot card reader promising his client—Ukraine—the impossible when he spoke of Kyiv being able to retake territory. “Trump debuts as the tarot card reader telling the thrice-divorced lady that she is going to meet that billionaire prince after all, as long as she buys the magic crystals,” Simonyan quipped on X.