US President responds to Dmitry Medvedev’s warning about war as tensions escalate over shortened Ukraine deadline
President Donald Trump announced Friday that he has ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines in response to what he called “highly provocative statements” from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, dramatically escalating tensions over his ultimatum to end the Ukraine war.
The submarine deployment, which Trump described as positioning vessels “in the appropriate regions,” marks a significant military response to an increasingly hostile exchange between Washington and Moscow. The move appears largely symbolic, as the United States already maintains a fleet of dozens of nuclear-powered submarines constantly deployed worldwide.
I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform Friday morning, without specifying the submarines’ locations or types.
Escalating War of Words
The deployment announcement follows a bitter public exchange between Trump and Medvedev, Russia’s former president who now serves as deputy chairman of the country’s Security Council. The confrontation intensified after Trump shortened his deadline for Russia to agree to peace terms from 50 days to just “10 or 12 days” during his recent trip to Scotland.
Medvedev had triggered Trump’s ire with a Monday post on X warning: “Trump’s playing the ultimatum game with Russia: 50 days or 10… He should remember 2 things: 1. Russia isn’t Israel or even Iran. 2. Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country. Don’t go down the Sleepy Joe road!”
The reference to “Sleepy Joe” – Trump’s derogatory nickname for former President Joe Biden – appeared to particularly anger the US president, who responded with a midnight Thursday tirade calling Medvedev a “failed former President of Russia, who thinks he’s still President.
Trump’s Ultimatum and Secondary Sanctions Threat
Trump’s submarine deployment comes as he threatens to impose punishing “secondary sanctions” on nations trading with Russia if Moscow fails to agree to peace terms. The president has expressed growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s continued prosecution of the war despite diplomatic overtures.
“We get a lot of bulls— thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” Trump said during a July 8 Cabinet meeting. “He’s very nice to us all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
During his Scotland trip, where he met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his Turnberry golf resort, Trump expressed disappointment with Putin’s lack of progress toward peace. “He talks — we have such nice conversations, such respectful and nice conversation. And then, people die the following night,” Trump stated.
Nuclear Rhetoric Intensifies
The exchange took an even darker turn when Medvedev responded to Trump’s “dangerous territory” warning by invoking Russia’s “Dead Hand” nuclear retaliation system – a Cold War-era automated response mechanism designed to launch nuclear weapons if Russian leadership is incapacitated.
“Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” Trump wrote in his submarine deployment announcement, attempting to de-escalate whilst maintaining a firm stance.
Military analysts note that while US nuclear submarines are routinely deployed globally, publicly announcing their positioning represents an unusual escalation in rhetoric typically avoided for operational security reasons.
India Caught in Crossfire
Trump’s anger extended beyond Russia to India, one of Moscow’s largest energy customers alongside China. In his Thursday Truth Social post, Trump wrote: “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India, their Tariffs are too high, among the highest in the World.”
The president announced 25% tariffs on Indian imports starting 1 August, citing the country’s continued purchases of Russian energy and military equipment “at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE.”
India and Russia are both founding members of BRICS, an economic bloc originally formed as a counterweight to Western institutions, which Trump has increasingly targeted with trade measures.
Putin Remains Silent as Medvedev Takes Lead
Whilst President Putin has avoided direct comment on Trump’s ultimatums, the Kremlin has stated it is “monitoring the situation.” Medvedev, once viewed as a pro-Western liberal during his 2008-2012 presidency, has transformed into one of the most hardline voices in the Russian establishment, routinely making aggressive statements about nuclear conflict and civilisational war with the West.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov rejected Trump’s approach earlier this week, stating that “any attempts to make demands, especially ultimatums, are unacceptable to us,” according to state-run TASS news agency.
European Trade Deal Under Fire
Medvedev has also criticised the trade agreement Trump reached with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen during his Scotland visit, suggesting Europe would renege on commitments to purchase American energy supplies.
Trump has made trade deals contingent on foreign policy alignment with the United States, warning Canada that recognising Palestinian statehood “will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them.
Historical Context and Campaign Promises
The escalating tensions mark a dramatic shift from Trump’s campaign rhetoric, when he promised to end the Ukraine conflict “within 24 hours” of taking office. During his campaign, Trump repeatedly criticised Biden’s handling of the war, claiming it would never have happened under his presidency.
“This war has been going on for three years. It’s a war that would have never happened if I was president. It’s Biden’s war,” Trump told TIME magazine earlier this year.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Trump for his “clear stance and expressed determination” to resolve the conflict, stating: “I thank President Trump for his focus on saving lives and stopping this horrible war.”
Dangerous Territory Ahead
The public deployment of nuclear submarines, combined with escalating rhetoric from both sides, has raised concerns among defence analysts about the potential for miscalculation. Trump’s decision to steer clear of direct criticism of Putin whilst attacking Medvedev suggests a strategy of maintaining diplomatic channels whilst applying military pressure.
As the shortened deadline approaches, with just days remaining for Russia to agree to peace terms, the submarine deployment serves as a stark reminder of the nuclear dimension underlying the Ukraine conflict. Whether this military posturing will compel Moscow to negotiate or further entrench positions remains to be seen.
The international community watches nervously as two nuclear powers engage in increasingly hostile rhetoric, with the fate of Ukraine – and potentially global stability – hanging in the balance.
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