Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
Trump Claims He Will Void Biden Documents Signed with Autopen 
U.S. Defense Chief Pete Hegseth Defends Controversial Second Strike on Suspected Drug-Smuggling Vessel 
U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
Australia Progresses AUKUS Review as U.S. Affirms Strong Support 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
Israel Receives Body of Deceased Hostage as Rafah Crossing Reopening Hinges on Final Returns 
Honduras Election Turmoil Intensifies as Nasralla Blames Trump for Shift in Results 
Taiwan Signals Openness to Renew Ties with Honduras as Election Unfolds 
Cuba Reaffirms Anti-Drug Cooperation as Tensions Rise in the Caribbean 
Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire 
Trump Administration Halts Immigration, Green Card, and Citizenship Processing for 19 Countries 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
Russian President Vladimir Putin responded sharply to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s remarks labeling Russia a “paper tiger,” turning the phrase back on NATO and cautioning against a dangerous new escalation if the United States supplies Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Group in Sochi, Putin insisted Russian forces are advancing along the front lines in Ukraine and dismissed Western portrayals of Russian weakness.
Trump, who recently shifted his stance by claiming Ukraine could reclaim its occupied territories, repeated his description of Russia as a “paper tiger.” Putin countered with irony, questioning what NATO itself represents if Moscow continues to advance despite supposedly being so weak.
The Russian leader mocked European complaints about drone and aircraft incursions into NATO airspace, joking about alleged overflights but dismissing them as exaggerated hysteria. However, he struck a more serious note regarding U.S. deliberations on supplying Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine, saying such a move would require direct American military involvement. Putin warned that this would mark “a qualitatively new stage of escalation” in U.S.-Russia relations.
NATO allies have consistently backed Ukraine with weapons, intelligence, and training, while accusing Moscow of violating European airspace. Putin argued that Western leaders exaggerate Russian threats to NATO members and should instead “cool down, sleep calmly, and take care of their own problems.”
The Kremlin maintains that the war represents a turning point in Russia’s relations with the West, which Putin claims has long tried to humiliate Moscow through NATO expansion. He emphasized that Russia controls nearly all of Luhansk, 81% of Donetsk, and about three-quarters of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. According to Putin, Ukraine is suffering manpower shortages and should pursue negotiations to end the war.
As tensions rise, Putin warned that Russia’s countermeasures would come swiftly if NATO intensifies its involvement.
