Russia says it's advancing in Ukraine and its economy is stable, after Trump calls it 'paper tiger'

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov waits before the talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Interim President of the Republic of Mali Assimi Goita at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia June 23, 2025. Pavel Bednyakov/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said on Wednesday it was economically stable and its army was advancing in Ukraine, rejecting comments by U.S. President Donald Trump urging Kyiv to take advantage of Russian economic weakness and seize back all of its captured territory.

In a sudden and striking rhetorical shift, Trump said on Tuesday that he believed Ukraine could retake all the land seized by Russia, which currently controls about a fifth of the country.