US President Donald Trump has announced the repositioning of two nuclear submarines to unspecified “appropriate regions” in response to what he described as “foolish and inflammatory” remarks by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
The move, revealed in a social media post on Friday, marks a sharp escalation in the verbal sparring between the two leaders, which has intensified in recent days over Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
“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 said, doubling down on his warning. “Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences. I hope this will not be one of those instances.”
The latest clash was sparked by Trump’s comments on Tuesday, when he issued an ultimatum to Moscow: agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine within ten days or face tariffs targeting both Russia and its oil buyers. Moscow, for its part, has dismissed the deadline and reiterated its own terms for peace, terms which remain unacceptable to both Kyiv and the West.
Medvedev, now serving as deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, responded to Trump’s ultimatum with characteristic bluster. On Monday, he accused Trump of engaging in a “game of ultimatums” and reminded the US President that Russia retains Cold War-era nuclear strike capabilities.
Trump, in turn, warned Medvedev to “watch his words,” prompting the former Russian leader to lash out further, calling the American president “delusional.”
Once seen as a more moderate figure during his presidency, Medvedev has, in the years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, adopted an increasingly hardline stance. He is now widely regarded as one of the Kremlin’s most vociferous anti-Western hawks. While many Kremlin critics have dismissed his comments as reckless and erratic, some Western diplomats argue that his rhetoric reflects genuine sentiment within the upper echelons of Russian policymaking.
The White House has not commented officially on the submarine deployment, and the Pentagon has declined to provide operational details. However, military analysts suggest the move is intended as a strategic signal rather than a prelude to imminent conflict.
