Russia issues chilling five-word response to Trump's Ukraine War threat

Vladimir Putin's Russia is more frequently compared to a bear (Image: GETTY)

The Kremlin has fired back at Donald Trump over his bullish insistence that Kyiv could reclaim all lost territory from Russia - and mocked the US President over his description of the superpower as “a paper tiger”. Dismissing Mr Trump's claims as misguided, Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov delivered a succinct five-word riposte, declaring: "Russia is a real bear.”

The remark, which is laced with historical symbolism, underlined Moscow's determination to pursue what it euphemistically calls its "special military operation" despite mounting international pressure. The exchange unfolded after Mr Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky in New York (Image: Getty)

The billionaire, who has often positioned himself as a potential peacemaker in the war, surprised observers by championing Ukraine's prospects.

Posting on Truth Social, he praised the country's "great spirit," arguing that Russia's failure to achieve a swift victory nearly four years into the invasion exposed Moscow's weaknesses.

Mr Trump declared: "Ukraine could win," insisting that Kyiv was "only getting better" and could retake all territories seized since February 2022.

Going even further, he branded Russia a "paper tiger" – a term implying fragility beneath a fearsome facade. He highlighted Ukraine's recent drone strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, which have triggered petrol shortages and soaring prices across Russia.

Such attacks, Mr Trump suggested, demonstrated Moscow's vulnerabilities as he urged global powers, including China, India, and EU nations, to halt purchases of Russian oil to starve the Kremlin's war machine.

However, Peskov, speaking to RBC Radio on Wednesday, swiftly rejected Trump's narrative, claiming Mr Trump had been swayed by Mr Zelensky.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov (Image: Getty)

He explained: "Mr Trump heard about what’s happening from Zelensky’s perspective. And, apparently, at this point, that version is what led to the assessment we heard.

"We continue our special military operation to ensure our national interests... There’s no kind of alternative option."

Addressing Trump's "paper tiger" jibe head-on, Peskov pivoted to a potent metaphor.

He said: "Russia is hardly a tiger," he retorted. "It’s more often associated with a bear. And there’s no such thing as a paper bear. Russia is a real bear.”

He referenced Putin's past descriptions of the bear in "different tones," emphasising its authenticity and strength. This invocation of the Russian bear carries deep historical weight, serving as a veiled warning of Russia's enduring power and unpredictability.

The concept of the Russian bear has long symbolised Russia's might in Western political discourse, dating back to 16th-century European caricatures depicting the nation as a formidable, lumbering beast.

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It gained prominence in the 19th century through British cartoons and literature, often portraying Russia as expansionist and aggressive. Famously, Winston Churchill employed the expression during the Second World War era.

In his reflections on the 1945 Potsdam Conference, Churchill wrote: "There I sat with the great Russian bear on one side of me with paws outstretched, and, on the other side, the great American buffalo.”

The metaphor captured the Allies' uneasy wartime partnership with the Soviet Union, highlighting Stalin's regime as both an ally and a potential threat – much like today's tensions.

Peskov also scoffed at Mr Trump's oil embargo proposal, accusing him of commercial opportunism. As a former businessman, Mr Trump was merely pushing "more expensive American oil and more expensive American liquefied gas," Peskov claimed.

He added: "The simplest thing is to force the whole world to buy [it]... without resorting to any elaborate diplomatic manoeuvres."

Despite his sharpened tone, Mr Trump has consistently refused to blame Putin directly for starting the war.

When pressed by reporters on whether the Russian leader could be trusted in talks, he said: "I’ll let you know in a month.”

Such ambiguity contrasts with his predecessors' outright condemnations, fuelling speculation about Mr Trump's approach should he seek re-engagement with Moscow.

Posting on X on Tuesday evening, Mr Zelensky said: "Ukraine wants peace more than anyone. The front is on our land. We mourn our people, we try to save our cities. Russia ignores its losses.

"But one day it will see – when it sees your actions, when it hears your united call for peace."