MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin cautioned the United States that delivering long-range missiles to Ukraine would severely harm Moscow-Washington relations, yet it won’t alter the battlefield dynamics, where Russian forces are progressing slowly but steadily.

Putin, speaking at a forum for international foreign policy experts in Sochi on the Black Sea, remarked that providing U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles to Kyiv would mark a “qualitatively new stage of escalation” between Russia and the U.S.

Though the introduction of Tomahawk missiles might cause damage if they reach Ukraine, Putin assured that Russian air defenses would quickly adjust to this threat. “The balance of forces on the battlefield will remain unchanged,” he emphasized, noting the Russian military’s ongoing progress in Ukraine.

Addressing Trump’s description of Russia as a “paper tiger” due to its inability to overcome a smaller neighbor after over 3 1/2 years of conflict, Putin contended that Russia is contending with all NATO allies supporting Kyiv.

“We’re up against NATO’s entire bloc, but we continue to advance confidently; if we’re the paper tiger, what does that make NATO?” he questioned. “A paper tiger? Deal with this paper tiger then.”

A White House official, speaking anonymously as they were not authorized to discuss the issue publically, mentioned that Russia’s economy and reputation have suffered significantly due to the war, with Putin turning down peace proposals that could have favored his nation.

Putin hails Alaska’s summit with Trump and reaffirms nuclear pact’s extension offer

At the same time, Putin hailed U.S. President Donald Trump’s efforts to help negotiate peace in Ukraine and described 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.

Putin also reaffirmed his offer to the U.S. to extend their last remaining nuclear arms control pact for one more year after it expires in February. The 2010 New START 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.”

While praising Trump and trying to emphasize potential common interests, the Russian president 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 destabilizing the global oil market.

Threatening a forceful response to Western “piracy,” mocking drone claims

Asked about the detention of an oil tanker off France’s Atlantic coast, which President Emmanuel Macron linked to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of aging tankers of uncertain ownership that are avoiding Western sanctions, Putin cast it as an attempt by Macron to distract public attention from his country’s own internal problems and mockingly likened the French leader to Napoleon.

He strongly warned the West against such action, 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.

Putin also scoffed at Western claims of possible Russian involvement in recent drone flights over Denmark, casting them as part of purported NATO efforts to “inflame tensions to boost the defense spending.”

Intrusions into NATO’s airspace blamed on Russia reached an unprecedented scale last month. A swarm of Russian drones flew into Poland, Estonia complained about an intrusion by Russian fighter jets and numerous unidentified drones were sighted over Denmark, Germany and other countries in what some European officials described as Moscow testing NATO’s response.

European defense ministers have agreed to develop a “drone wall” along their borders to better detect, track and intercept drones violating Europe’s airspace.

Putin dismissed Western allegations of Russia’s purported aggressive plans against NATO allies as “nonsense” aimed at distracting public attention from domestic problems.

“We are carefully watching the growing militarization of Europe,” he said. “Is all of this just words or is it time for us to take countermeasures? No one should have doubt that Russia’s countermeasures will not take a long time to come.”

Putin’s reaction to Charlie Kirk’s assassination

Asked about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, Putin called it a “heinous crime” that reflected a “deep split” in American society. He hailed Kirk as a hero killed for promoting the same conservative values that Russia shares.

Putin also praised Michael Gloss, an American and the son of a deputy CIA chief, who joined the Russian military and was killed in action in Ukraine in 2024. He said he had awarded Gloss with a medal, which he handed to Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff during his visit to Moscow.

The Russian leader likened Gloss to Kirk, saying they championed similar “traditional” values. “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.

In response to questions about Gloss, the CIA said in a statement that the agency “considers Michael’s passing to be a private family matter — and not a national security issue. The entire CIA family is heartbroken for their loss.”

At one point during the four-hour event televised live, Putin, a former Soviet KGB officer and one-time head of Russia’s top domestic security agency, misspoke and referred to himself as “the CIA director” while describing a meeting with President George W. Bush and his administration officials. “The future director,” Putin quipped as the audience broke into laughter.

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Associated Press writers David Klepper and Chris Megerian in Washington contributed.