President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he has ordered two nuclear submarines to be stationed in strategic regions in response to ‘highly provocative’ remarks by Russian Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev. Medvedev, who previously served as Russia’s president, criticized Trump’s new deadline for Russia to end its conflict with Ukraine as a ‘step towards war.’ Trump’s response underscores the heightened tensions between the United States and Russia, particularly following Medvedev’s strong statements. The U.S. leader emphasized the importance of careful communication, expressing hope that the actions would not lead to unintended consequences.
The Russian Foreign Ministry has not yet responded to the U.S. military deployment, highlighting the ongoing tensions between the two nations. Medvedev, now the deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, cautioned that Trump’s deadline for a peace deal is not a solution but a threat. He suggested that Trump should remember that Russia is not Israel or Iran, and that each new ultimatum is a step towards conflict within the U.S. itself.
Trump’s remarks come as his frustration with Putin has grown in recent weeks amid no progress toward peace between Russia and Ukraine. Additionally, Russia launched more than 300 drones, four cruise missiles, and three ballistic missiles into Ukraine on the day before Trump’s comments, according to the Ukrainian air force. The U.S. leader also highlighted the human cost of the war, noting that almost 20,000 Russian soldiers have died in the conflict this month, and that Russia has lost 112,500 soldiers since the beginning of the year. Trump emphasized that the war is ‘Biden’s War,’ and that his role is to ‘see if he can stop it.’ This statement reflects the complex political dynamics at play, with Trump positioning himself as a critic of the current administration’s approach to the conflict.