Vladimir Putin, message for European leaders: "Either they are incredibly incompetent if they believe that Russia will attack NATO, because it is impossible to believe such absurdities, or they are simply dishonest. Calm down, sleep peacefully and take care of your own problems."

In a statement at the Valdai Forum, Putin challenged Trump's characterization of Russia as a 'paper tiger', asserting that Russian forces are advancing on the Ukrainian front. He warned that the delivery of Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would lead to a dangerous escalation of the conflict. Putin mocked European accusations regarding Russian incursions into NATO airspace and emphasized that Russia has sufficient human resources in contrast to Ukraine. He also reiterated that the war in Ukraine is a reaction to the historical humiliations suffered by Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union.