‘Will seriously damage relations’: Putin warns Trump over supplies of US long-range missile to Ukraine

The Russian leader noted that even though Tomahawk missiles will inflict damage on Russia, country’s air defences will quickly adapt to the new threat. “It will certainly not change the balance of force on the battlefield,” he added, emphasising that the Russian military is continuously making gains against Ukraine.

Asked about Trump dismissing Russia as a “paper tiger” because of its failure to defeat its smaller neighbour after more than 3 1/2 years of fighting, Putin argued that Russia has faced all the NATO allies backing Kyiv.

“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?” he said. “A paper tiger? Go and deal with this paper tiger then.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Putin’s remarks.

Putin hails Alaska’s summit with Trump

Despite the warnings and criticism, Putin hailed US President Donald Trump’s efforts to help negotiate peace in Ukraine, describing their August summit in Alaska as “productive.”

“It was good that we made an attempt to search for and find possible ways to settle the Ukrainian crisis,” he said, adding that he felt “comfortable” talking to Trump, reported PTI.

The three-hour discussion in Alaska, however, did not lead to a ceasefire “deal”.

Putin also reiterated his offer to the US to extend their last remaining nuclear arms control pact, also known as ‘the 2010 New START treaty’,  for one more year after it expires in February. The treaty limits each country to no more than 1,550 deployed nuclear warheads and 700 deployed missiles and bombers.

“If they don’t need it, we don’t need it either,” he said, adding that “we feel confident about our nuclear shield.”

Putin’s stern warning to Ukraine’s western allies

Putin sent a stern warning to Ukraine’s Western allies against trying to seize ships that carry Russian oil to global markers. He argued that would amount to piracy and could trigger a forceful response while sharply destabilising the global oil market.

On detention of an oil tanker off France’s Atlantic coast, which President Emmanuel Macron linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of ageing tankers of uncertain ownership that are avoiding, the Russian president said that it was an attempt by Macron to distract public attention from his country’s own internal problems.

He warned the West against such actions, arguing that it defies international maritime law and risks triggering military confrontation. “It’s piracy, and how do you deal with pirates? You destroy them,” he said.

(With PTI inputs)