October 4, 2025

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a fiery warning to the United States: sending long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine will seriously damage relations between Moscow and Washington but won’t change the slow yet steady progress of Russian forces on the battlefield. Speaking at a forum in Sochi, Putin said the missile supply "will signal a qualitatively new stage of escalation, including in relations between Russia and the U.S." He added, "It will certainly not change the balance of force on the battlefield," because Russian air defenses will quickly adjust to the new threat. Putin also responded sharply to former US President Donald Trump's comment calling Russia a "paper tiger," because Russia has not defeated Ukraine after more than 3 1/2 years of fighting. Putin argued, "We are fighting against the entire bloc of NATO and we keep moving, keep advancing and feel confident and we are a paper tiger; what NATO itself is? A paper tiger? Go and deal with this paper tiger then." While criticizing US actions, Putin praised Trump’s efforts to negotiate peace in Ukraine, calling their August summit in Alaska "productive" and saying he felt "comfortable" talking to the American leader. He also reaffirmed Russia’s offer to extend the New START nuclear arms treaty for one more year after it expires in February, adding, "If they don't need it, we don't need it either," but also stated, "we feel confident about our nuclear shield." Putin warned Western allies not to seize ships carrying Russian oil, calling such moves "piracy" and warning of a strong response that could destabilize the global oil market. Reacting to a French oil tanker detained off France’s coast, Putin mocked French President Emmanuel Macron and warned, "It's piracy, and how do you deal with pirates? You destroy them." He also dismissed Western claims of Russian drone flights over Denmark as NATO moves to "inflame tensions to boost the defense spending." He called accusations of Russian aggression against NATO "nonsense" and said Russia is watching Europe’s growing militarization carefully. "No one should have doubt that Russia's countermeasures will not take a long time to come," Putin warned. Regarding the assassination of American conservative figure Charlie Kirk, Putin called it a "heinous crime" that reveals a "deep split" in US society, praising Kirk as a hero who died for values similar to those Russia supports. Putin also honored Michael Gloss, an American son of a former CIA deputy who joined the Russian military and was killed in Ukraine in 2024. "He gave his life while defending those values as a Russian soldier, and Kirk gave his life while fighting for the same values in the United States," Putin said. The CIA responded stating Gloss’s passing is "a private family matter." In a lighter moment during the four-hour live broadcast, Putin accidentally called himself "the CIA director" while recalling a past meeting with US President George W. Bush's team, quickly correcting with "The future director," making the audience laugh. This event showcased Putin’s bold mix of warnings, praise, and sharp jabs as Russia continues its complex and tense dance on the world stage.

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Tags: Putin, Ukraine, Tomahawk missiles, Nato, Russia-usa relations, Charlie kirk,