A menacing tweet from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, which warned that Donald Trump’s sanction threats over Ukraine constituted “a step towards war” and alluded to nuclear action, has prompted a decisive response from the U.S. President. Trump has announced the deployment of nuclear-capable submarines to “appropriate regions.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump explained his order was a direct consequence of Medvedev’s “highly provocative statements.” He emphasized the weight of words, noting they “can often lead to unintended consequences,” and expressed hope that the situation would not escalate beyond rhetoric.
Trump clarified his reasoning to reporters, stating, “A threat was made by a former president of Russia and we’re going to protect our people.” This move follows Medvedev’s pattern of aggressive social media posts, particularly one where he mocked Trump for shortening his peace timeline for Ukraine and cautioned against treating Russia like a lesser state.
While some security analysts categorize Trump’s action as a rhetorical countermeasure, rather than a novel military deployment, given the existing global footprint of U.S. nuclear submarines, the public exchange highlights heightened tensions. Trump has openly expressed his disappointment with Vladimir Putin’s perceived lack of progress on a Ukraine ceasefire, a peace deal he had vowed to deliver quickly. Putin, despite recent destruction in Ukraine, continues to speak of seeking a “lasting and stable peace” without indicating any willingness to make concessions.