Trump trying to get under Putin’s skin – former US diplomat
US President Donald Trump’s description of Russia as a “paper tiger” is a jab at his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, not a signal of renewed support for Kiev, former US envoy Kurt Volker has said. He added that Trump remains focused on striking a deal with Moscow and making money.
After months of saying Ukraine has “no cards to play,” Trump shifted his rhetoric on Tuesday following a meeting with Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky at the UN General Assembly. He wrote on Truth Social that Ukraine is “in a position to fight and win all of Ukraine back” with European and NATO support. He also called Russia a “paper tiger” facing an economic crisis, saying “this is the time for Ukraine to act.”
Volker, who served as Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine during his first term, told Bloomberg that the president’s remark was only an attempt “to get under Putin’s skin,” and that he “doesn’t suggest that he’s going to do anything about it.”
He stressed that Trump still wants to reach a deal with Putin, adding that the president’s statements are an attempt to shift the burden of supporting Kiev onto Western Europe.
The White House also said the administration’s policy remains unchanged and called Trump’s sharp rhetoric a “negotiating tactic” to pressure Moscow.
Moscow has dismissed Trump’s “paper tiger” comments. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is a “real bear,” not a paper tiger, and that the economy has adapted to sanctions and continues to supply the military despite difficulties. He reiterated Moscow’s openness to talks but noted that Kiev’s battlefield situation is worsening and urged Ukraine to negotiate.
Zelensky hailed Trump’s remarks, telling Fox News they show that America will stand with Ukraine. Ukrainian opposition MP Aleksey Goncharenko criticized Zelensky for treating Trump’s words as a commitment, claiming the US president is actually disengaging. He warned that this misinterpretation could lead to new offensives costing more Ukrainian lives.
