‘Russia is a bear, not paper tiger’: Kremlin mocks Trump’s Ukraine rhetoric shift, rejects US claims

The Kremlin has dismissed Donald Trump’s sudden pro-Ukraine shift, rejecting his claims of Russian weakness and economic fragility. After Trump called Russia a ‘paper tiger,’ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov retorted that Russia is symbolised by a bear, not paper. Moscow insisted its slow advances are part of a deliberate strategy, not failure, while Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov prepared to outline Russia’s stance in talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.