Moscow broke its silence on President Donald Trump’s comments ordering two nuclear submarines to “the appropriate regions” in response to “provocative” remarks by a former Russian president.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian state media on Aug. 4 that the country was “very attentive” to the topic of nuclear non-proliferation and believed “everyone should be very, very cautious with nuclear rhetoric.”
Peskov also played down the significance of Trump’s comments, saying it was clear to Russia that U.S. submarines were already on combat duty. He said Russia had no appetite for getting into a prolonged argument with Trump.
Trump offers Putin an ultimatum: pressure builds to sanction Russia
Still, Trump’s deployment of the nuclear submarines appears to be the first time social media rhetoric has led an American president to apparently reposition parts of the United States’ nuclear arsenal. (Trump did not specify whether he was referring to nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines.)
Trump said the move was in response to statements from Dmitry Medvedev, who was the Russian president from 2008 to 2012 and prime minister from 2012 to 2020. He is now the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council. Medvedev, who in recent years has taken to social media to post spiky, rabble-rousing comments aimed at the United States, said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that Trump’s recent threats to sanction Russia, including a tariffs ultimatum, were “a step towards war.”
Trump: Nuclear submarines ‘in the region’ amid tension with Russia
Seeking a ceasefire
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Putin himself has frequently resorted to nuclear threats. The Kremlin has repeatedly suggested that Moscow could use nuclear weapons under certain circumstances.
The latest spat follows Trump’s trip to Scotland, where he said he was reducing his 50-day deadline for Russia to make moves toward trying to end its war with Ukraine – down to a new deadline of 10 or 12 days. That deadline is Aug. 8. Trump warned of “very severe” sanctions on Russia if it does not commit to a ceasefire.
Ahead of the deadline, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, a real estate mogul and cryptocurrency trader who has turned into Trump’s de facto roaming emissary, is expected to visit Russia on Aug. 6.
Peskov said Russia views Witkoff’s visit as “important, substantial and helpful,” and he raised the possibility that Witkoff might see President Vladimir Putin for talks. Witkoff has made multiple trips to Moscow at Trump’s behest.
After one of his trips, he returned with a portrait of Trump gifted by Putin. During another visit, Witkoff, who does not speak Russian, arrived without a translator and relied on one supplied by the Kremlin. His last trip was in April.
Trump told reporters that if his Aug. 8 deadline arrives and Russia has not agreed to a Ukraine ceasefire, “there’ll be sanctions. But they seem to be pretty good at avoiding sanctions,” he added.
“You know, they’re wily characters. … So we’ll see what happens.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump’s Russia deadline looms as tensions and threats rise
