The President of the United States, Donald Trump, reignited his rhetoric with a speech delivered in front of hundreds of generals and admirals in Quantico, Virginia, where he once again labeled Vladimir Putin a “paper tiger” and expressed his deep frustration over the prolongation of the war in Ukraine.
“Between five and seven thousand soldiers die each week. Think about that. However, I believe we will be able to resolve it. But that has proven to be the most difficult. I am very disappointed in President Putin,” stated Trump, who claimed he had warned the Russian leader that the conflict “made him look weak.”
The Republican added that he had thought Putin would be able to achieve a swift victory: “I thought… I thought he would resolve this. He should have finished that job in a week. And I told him, you know, you… are not looking good. You’ve been waging a war for four years that should have lasted a week. Are you a paper tiger?”.
The speech, lasting over 70 minutes, was met with a cold reception from the high-ranking military officials, who limited themselves to listening in silence, adhering to the Pentagon's instructions to maintain political neutrality. Only at the end was there a discreet round of applause.
Ukraine and Trump's Change of Tone
The president's words come amid a diplomatic shift. Last week, during the UN General Assembly in New York, Trump expressed explicit support for Zelensky, stating that with the backing of Europe and NATO, Ukraine can "regain its country in its original form and even go beyond".
“He is a brave man and is fighting with all his strength. Ukraine has a great spirit,” he stated. Zelensky responded by publicly thanking for the change of stance and emphasized that “territories cannot be exchanged” in the face of an invasion.
Trump justified his support by pointing out the military and economic wear on Russia, which he described as “directionless” following three and a half years of war. He also emphasized that, with patience and military and financial aid, Kyiv can tip the scales.
The Kremlin's reaction
The statements quickly elicited a response from Moscow. The presidential spokesperson, Dmitri Peskov, rejected the metaphor used by Trump: “Russia is not a tiger, it is a bear. And there are no paper bears.”
According to Peskov, military operations are proceeding "carefully" to minimize casualties, and he accused Trump of being unaware of the "reality of the front," where—he claimed—Russian troops continue to gain ground. He also warned that time is working against those who refuse to negotiate with Moscow.
The rhetorical clash between Washington and the Kremlin reflects the escalating tension surrounding Ukraine, while the EU welcomed Trump’s support as a sign of Western unity.
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