US President Donald Trump spoke on Tuesday at a meeting with American generals in Quantico, Virginia, about one of his discussions with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, during which he told the Kremlin leader that he is not winning the war in Ukraine.
Trump once again stated that he is very disappointed in Putin, as he believes the Kremlin leader should have put an end to the war against Ukraine, as reported by RBC Ukraine.
"I told him: 'You know, you don't look good. You fought for four years in a war that should have lasted a week. Are you a paper tiger?'" said the US President.
The term "paper tiger" usually refers to someone who appears very threatening but lacks real strength, as noted by the publication.
Last week, in a post on the social network Truth Social, Donald Trump compared Russia to a "paper tiger", stating that it has been aimlessly fighting for over three years.
In the American leader's opinion, in such a situation, a real military power should have achieved victory within a week.
"After fully understanding the military and economic situation of Ukraine/Russia and seeing the economic problems caused by Russia, I believe Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is capable of fighting and regaining the entire Ukraine in its original form. With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and especially NATO, the original borders from where this war started are a very realistic option. Why not?
Russia has been fighting for three and a half years without a clear purpose in a war that a real military power would have won in less than a week. This does not honor Russia. In fact, it makes it appear more like 'a paper tiger'," Trump wrote.
The US President also emphasized that Ukraine can fully restore its territorial integrity, as Russia is facing serious economic issues.
"When people living in Moscow and in all the major cities, towns, and districts throughout Russia find out what is really happening in this war, the fact that it is nearly impossible for them to get gasoline because of the long queues forming and all the other things happening in their war economy, where most of their money is spent fighting against Ukraine, which has great spirit and is getting better and better, Ukraine could reclaim its country in its original form and, who knows, maybe even go further than that!
Putin and Russia are in a very difficult economic situation, and this is the right moment for Ukraine to act," Trump wrote.
Commenting on Trump's statement, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov argued that Russia is more often associated with a bear and there is no "paper bear".
T.D.