US President Donald Trump says he has ordered two nuclear submarines deployed to “appropriate regions” in response to “highly provocative” remarks by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.

 

In a post on his Truth Social shared on Friday, Trump did not specify where the two submarines were being sent.

 

Medvedev had warned that Trump should remember Moscow had Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities.

 

The escalation is a spiralling war of words between both leaders over Trump’s efforts to get Russia to end its war in Ukraine.

 

MEDVEDEV VS TRUMP

Medvedev has long been taunting Trump’s unsuccessful attempt to get the Kremlin to reach a peace deal.

 

On Monday, the former Russian leader said each new ultimatum that Trump makes about Russia to force an end to its war on Ukraine “is a threat and a step towards war”.

 

Medvedev’s comments were in response to Trump’s decision to reduce the 50-day deadline he had given Vladimir Putin, his Russian counterpart, to reach a peace deal with Ukraine to two weeks, or face big “secondary tariffs” on Moscow’s trade partners.

 

Medvedev continued his taunts, comparing Trump to “Sleepy Joe,” the moniker Trump had derisively used for Joe Biden, his predecessor.

 

Trump, in a Truth Social post on Thursday, had warned Medvedev about his rhetoric.

 

“If a few words from a former Russian president can cause such a nervous reaction from the supposedly powerful President of the United States, then clearly Russia is right about everything and will continue its own way,” Medvedev replied.

 

“And as for the ‘dead economies’ of India and Russia and ‘stepping into dangerous territory’ – well, let him recall his favourite movies about the ‘walking dead,’ as well as how dangerous the supposedly non-existent ‘Dead Hand’ can be.”

 

The Dead Hand is Russia’s system for automatically launching nuclear strikes if a nuclear attack is detected against the country.

 

Medvedev is currently the deputy chairman of Russia’s security council.

 

‘FOOLISH STATEMENTS’

Responding, Trump said Medvedev’s statements were “highly provocative”.


“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,” the US president said.

 

“Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences; I hope this will not be one of those instances.”


Putin has yet to publicly comment on the matter.