Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent comments at the United Nations General Assembly have triggered a wave of diplomatic reactions from Moscow. Trump described Russia as a “paper tiger” locked in an “aimless war” in Ukraine, while also suggesting that Ukraine could eventually regain all of its lost territory.
For the Kremlin, such words are far from flattering. Comparisons with past remarks—such as former President Barack Obama’s characterization of Russia as merely a “regional power”—show how sensitive Moscow is to Western dismissals of its global status.
Yet despite the provocative language, Russia’s initial reaction has been surprisingly muted. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov downplayed Trump’s insult, asserting:
“Russia is in no way a tiger. It is more associated with a bear. And there is no such thing as a paper bear.”
Kremlin’s Diplomatic Response
Instead of escalating rhetorically, Moscow sought to frame Trump’s remarks in a pragmatic light. Peskov emphasized that President Putin still valued Trump’s “political will to continue working towards a peace settlement.”
This cautious tone is not new. Over the years, the Kremlin has often responded with restraint when Trump criticized Russia, perhaps because Moscow believes his views are fluid and subject to influence. The Russian newspaper Izvestiya suggested that Trump’s sharp comments may have been shaped by his recent meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, hinting that Russia expects his stance to soften later.
No Threats, No Ultimatums
Another reason for Moscow’s measured response is the lack of direct consequences in Trump’s words. Despite his harsh rhetoric, Trump did not call for new sanctions, issue ultimatums, or set deadlines for Russia to end the war. The Kremlin has likely calculated that as long as threats remain absent, fiery words can be absorbed without major retaliation.
When asked whether Trump still trusted Putin, his ambiguous reply—“I’ll let you know in about a month from now”—also reassured Moscow that no immediate shift in U.S. policy was imminent.
Russia’s Economy Under Strain
Trump also depicted Russia as being in “BIG economic trouble”, a claim the Kremlin swiftly denied. In reality, while Russia’s economy has not collapsed, it is showing signs of deep stress after more than three years of war, sanctions, and massive state spending.
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Budget deficit: Growing due to high military costs.
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Energy revenues: Declining as oil and gas exports face pressure.
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Domestic industry: Struggling to keep pace under sanctions.
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Fuel shortages: Recent Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian oil refineries have disrupted supplies, with local newspapers even warning of a potential “full-scale fuel crisis.”
Despite these challenges, economic pressures have not changed the Kremlin’s battlefield calculus. Putin remains committed to continuing the war, showing no signs of backing down under Western pressure.
Conclusion
Trump’s remarks may have been intended to show strength on the global stage, but Moscow is playing a longer game. By brushing off the “paper tiger” insult and focusing on diplomacy, the Kremlin signals that it sees Trump as unpredictable, but not irreversibly hostile.
For now, Russia appears determined to weather both Western insults and economic pain, with Putin pressing ahead in Ukraine regardless of international criticism.
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