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Russia rejected U.S. President Donald Trump's assertion that Ukraine could reclaim occupied territory and dismissed his characterization of Russian forces as a "paper tiger," as the Kremlin pledged Wednesday to press ahead with its military campaign.
The pushback came a day after Trump made a dramatic shift in his Ukraine stance, suggesting Kyiv's forces could potentially "take back their country in its original form" following discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the United Nations.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the notion that Ukraine could recapture territory "mistaken" and bristled at suggestions of Russian military weakness. "Russia is more associated with a bear. And paper bears don't exist. Russia is a real bear," Peskov told reporters.
Despite the defiant rhetoric, Russia acknowledged economic strain from the prolonged conflict. Peskov conceded the Russian economy was "experiencing tensions and problems," while the finance ministry proposed raising sales taxes to help fund military operations that have pushed the country into budget deficit.
The financial pressures come as Ukraine has intensified attacks on Russian energy infrastructure, a key revenue source for Moscow's war effort. Overnight, Ukrainian drones struck a major oil refinery in Russia's Bashkortostan region, triggering a large fire. A separate drone attack on the port city of Novorossiysk killed two people, according to local officials.
Trump's latest comments represent a significant departure from his previous position on the war. The remarks followed talks with Zelenskyy and came after the Ukrainian leader had pressed for stronger U.S. support during his visit to the United Nations.
The exchange highlights the evolving dynamics of the conflict as it enters its third year, with Trump adopting a markedly different tone from his earlier claims that he could resolve the war within hours of taking office.
Russian forces currently control approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014. The conflict, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions of Ukrainians.
In Moscow, residents expressed skepticism about American influence on the conflict's outcome. "America and Ukraine as a whole have absolutely no chance of defeating Russia," said Stepan Lastochkin, a 20-year-old university student. "His words mean nothing to our people now."
Ukrainian reactions were similarly cautious. In Kyiv, 33-year-old Bogdan Tkachuk described Trump's statements as "just another opinion from Trump, which changes every hour."
Zelenskyy has characterized Trump's apparent policy shift as a "big shift," though uncertainty remains about whether concrete actions, such as additional sanctions on Russia, will follow.
Peskov indicated that broader U.S.-Russia relations have shown little improvement since Trump returned to office in January, describing diplomatic progress as yielding "close to zero" results.
The Kremlin also dismissed as "hysteria" NATO allegations that Russian aircraft have repeatedly violated European airspace in recent weeks, a claim that has prompted Trump to suggest alliance members should shoot down violating aircraft.
As both sides maintain hardline positions, the prospect for near-term diplomatic resolution remains dim, with Russia reaffirming its commitment to what it calls the "goals" of its offensive and Ukraine continuing to seek expanded Western military support.
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