Vladimir Putin: The West wants to turn the Russian bear into a 'stuffed animal'

Vladimir Putin: The West wants to turn the Russian bear into a 'stuffed animal'
(Image credit: iStock)

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday accused the United States and Europe of trying to undermine Moscow's finances. Likening Russia to the metaphorical bear, Putin said that even if said bear eschewed a policy of "chasing around the forest after piglets," the West would still want to "tear out his fangs and his claws."

"Once they've taken out his claws and his fangs, then the bear is no longer necessary," Putin said, according to The Associated Press. "He'll become a stuffed animal."

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Jon Terbush

Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.