Russian Defense Minister: The British Lion Will Not Tell Our Bear What to Do

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu responded to British Defense Secretary Sir Michael Fallon's recent statement that "we don't need the bear sticking his paws in [Libya]" by saying that "there is no animal in their zoo that can tell our bear what to do." He was speaking before an audience of the "Young Army" military-patriotic movement at Moscow State University on February 21,and his statements aired on the Russian channel of the Russia Today TV network.

Audience Member: "Could you please comment on the words of your British colleague, Michael Fallon, during the Munich conference, with regard to Russia's actions in Libya? He said – and I quote: 'We don't need the bear sticking his paws in (Libya).'"

Sergey Shoigu: "Well, if we are talking about animals… They've got a lion on their national emblem, right? There is an old proverb that says: 'Every lion is a cat, but not every cat is a lion.' Let everybody mind their own business. We don't believe that there is any animal in their zoo that can tell our bear what to do."