AdvertisementBut, after months of failed attempts at negotiations, Trump blasted Russia and unexpectedly claimed Ukraine could win the conflict instead. The US president even called Russia a “paper tiger” – a seemingly powerful entity who is actually ineffective – last week. Now Putin has responded by simply turning the insult back on Nato, and insisting the defence alliance is the real “paper tiger.”AdvertisementSpeaking on Thursday, he said: “A paper tiger. Go and deal with this paper tiger. But Putin still insisted alleged plans of Russia trying to attack a Nato member were “impossible to believe” on Thursday.