US President Donald Trump’s description of Russia as a “paper tiger” during a post-meeting with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy has drawn a pointed response from Russian leader Vladimir Putin, who suggested the remark may have been made “ironically.”

The comment came after Trump, in a September post on his Truth Social platform, claimed Russia had failed to defeat Ukraine over three and a half years, asserting that Kyiv could “fight and win all of Ukraine back” with continued support from the EU and NATO. Putin, however, dismissed the characterization, joking: “Go ahead and take on this paper tiger.”

The Russian president’s remarks followed a lighthearted exchange with Valdai Discussion Club host Fyodor Lukyanov, who humorously proposed gifting Trump a literal paper tiger. Putin declined, stating, “We have our own relations; we know what gifts to present each other.” He added that he was unsure of the context behind Trump’s comment, noting, “Maybe it was made ironically.”

Moscow’s military has reportedly advanced significantly on the front lines, with Chief of the General Staff General Valery Gerasimov reporting in late September that Russian forces had captured 4,700 square kilometers and 205 settlements this year.