The Kremlin on Wednesday said it had no choice but to continue its military operation in Ukraine, rejecting US President Donald Trump’s recent claim that Russia is a “paper tiger.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the special military operation – Moscow’s term for the war – is aimed at securing Russia’s interests and achieving goals set by President Vladimir Putin.
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“We are doing this for both the present and the future of our country. For many generations to come. Therefore, we have no alternative,” Peskov told a Russian newspaper in a radio interview.
The comments came after Trump indicated a sharp turn in his position on the three-and-a-half-year war.
On Tuesday, in a flurry of diplomatic meetings on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and a forceful social media post, he said Ukraine “can win” and reclaim lost territory, calling Russia a “paper tiger” with a struggling economy.
Peskov pushed back on Trump’s remark but acknowledged Russia faces economic challenges after three years of growth and persistent inflation.
“Russia maintains its macroeconomic stability,” he said, adding that the country is experiencing “tensions and problems in various sectors of the economy.”
Peskov called the idea that Ukraine could regain territory “wrong,” adding that “the dynamics on the fronts are telling.”
Zelensky Says Putin Rejected G7 Peace Talks Offer
He said President Putin “is open to seeking a peaceful resolution to the conflict” but warned that the situation around Ukraine is very different from spring 2022, with Kyiv’s positions now “much weaker.”
He also gave a downbeat assessment of efforts to improve US-Russia relations, saying progress since Trump returned to the White House has been “close to zero.”
Trump met privately with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the UN General Assembly, calling him a “brave man” and praising Ukraine’s fight.
Zelensky said he was “a little bit” surprised by Trump’s shift but welcomed the support, noting both leaders and their people want to end the war quickly.
“He [Trump] showed that he wants to support Ukraine to the very end. So we understand now that we’re ready to finish this war as quickly as possible. And he wants, and I want, and our people want this,” Zelensky said.
“However, he understands that Putin doesn’t want this and doesn’t acknowledge that he’s not winning, yet he tells everybody that he will win. I was very positive to see that Trump and America will be with us to the end of the war.”
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