Putin promises "significant" response to European militarization, mocks Trump's "paper tiger" comment

Russian President Vladimir Putin promised a "significant" response to "Europe's militarisation" Thursday, October 2, during an address at a foreign policy forum in southern Russia.

"We are closely monitoring the rising militarisation of Europe," Putin told the forum's audience, adding: "Retaliatory measures by Russia will not take long. The response to such threats will be very significant."

"Russia will never show weakness or indecisiveness," Putin added. Relations between Russia and the European Union deteriorated after Moscow sent troops into Ukraine, leading the bloc to bolster its defense capabilities.


Also read: Putin praises Trump but warns supplies of US long-range missiles to Ukraine will badly hurt ties

Drone incidents heighten European security concerns

Drone incidents in Denmark and aerial incursions from Moscow in Estonia and Poland have heightened concerns that Russia's war against Ukraine could extend beyond the country's borders.

Putin accused Europe of stoking "hysteria" to justify rising military spending and said Russia did not pose a threat.

"Just calm down," the Russian President said.

Putin claimed Russia was fighting the NATO alliance in Ukraine and responded to US President Donald Trump's recent characterization of Russia as a "paper tiger."

"But given we are at war with the entire NATO bloc and are advancing, feeling confident, and we are still being called a paper tiger, then what is NATO itself?" Putin said.

Russian leader blames Ukraine for Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant strikes

The Russian leader blamed Kyiv for conducting strikes around the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, warning that Moscow may respond in kind.

Europe's largest atomic energy plant, currently in cold shutdown mode, lost power over a week ago in the longest outage recorded at the facility. Russia and Ukraine have traded blame for attacking the grid powering the facility.