Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday, one day after President Donald Trump stunned observers by calling Russia a “paper tiger” and suggesting Ukraine could reclaim all its occupied territory with the help of NATO and the EU.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and lasted about 50 minutes. U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz was also in attendance. Lavrov left the meeting without commenting on Trump’s remarks or whether Moscow was concerned by the shift in tone from Washington.
A spokesperson for Rubio issued a brief statement afterward, saying only that the Secretary of State “reiterated President Trump’s call for the killing to stop and the need for Moscow to take meaningful steps toward a durable resolution of the Russia-Ukraine war.”
For months, Trump had floated the idea that Ukraine might need to cede territory to Russia to end the war. But after a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday, Trump abruptly reversed his stance.
In a social media post, Trump wrote: “After getting to know and fully understand the Ukraine/Russia military and economic situation, and after seeing the economic trouble it is causing Russia, I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union and NATO, is in a position to fight and win all of Ukraine back in its original form.”
He added that Russia is a “paper tiger,” drawing immediate criticism from Moscow.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded: “Russia is a bear, not a paper tiger. Trump heard Zelenskyy’s version of events. Apparently, this version was the reason for the assessment we heard. We cannot agree with everything here.”
Peskov added that Lavrov’s meeting with Rubio would be used to communicate Moscow’s view of recent developments.
Speaking at the UN Security Council on Tuesday, Rubio had warned there may come a time when “we will have to conclude that perhaps there is no interest in a peaceful resolution” from Russia, adding that Trump’s “patience is not infinite.”
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy delivered a powerful address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, warning that Putin’s ambitions stretch beyond Ukraine.
“International law doesn’t work fully unless you have powerful friends who are truly willing to stand up for it,” Zelenskyy said. “And even that doesn’t work without weapons. It’s terrible, but without it, things will be even worse.”
Zelenskyy also warned that Russian drones and military operations were already spreading into other countries, saying, “No one can feel safe right now.”
On Tuesday, Trump said NATO countries should be ready to shoot down Russian aircraft if they enter their airspace, a comment that suggested a tougher posture toward Moscow following his recent consultations with European allies and Ukrainian leadership.
While Trump’s new tone has been welcomed in Kyiv, it remains to be seen whether his rhetoric will translate into new policy actions. For now, the meeting between Rubio and Lavrov highlights the delicate balancing act between diplomacy, deterrence, and shifting alliances in a conflict that continues to reshape global politics.
