Moscow downplayed President Trump’s announcement that he ordered two nuclear submarines to “appropriate regions” after rhetoric of Russia’s end of the country.
Trump says he’s sending nuclear submarines after Russia references the nuclear system
President Donald Trump says he is sending two US nuclear submarines to relocate after Dmitry Medvedev referenced the Soviet-era “dead hand” system.
- President Donald Trump ordered two nuclear submarines to private locations after comments from former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.
- Russia downplayed the deployment of submarines and said it knew about the activities of US submarines.
- Trump sets an August 8 deadline to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, threatening sanctions if they are met.
Moscow has broken the silence in President Donald Trump’s comments about ordering two nuclear submarines in “appropriate areas” in response to “provocative” comments by the former Russian president.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian state media on August 4 that the country was “very careful” to the topic of nuclear non-proliferation, believing that “everyone should be very cautious about nuclear rhetoric.”
Peskov also downplayed the importance of Trump’s comments, saying it is clear to Russia that US submarines already have combat obligations. He said Russia has no desire to enter into a long-term debate with Trump.
Still, it appears that Trump’s nuclear submarine deployment is the first time that social media rhetoric has clearly repositioned some of the US nuclear weapons on the US president. (Trump did not specify whether he refers to nuclear-driven or nuclear-armed submarines.)
Trump said the move responded to a statement from Dmitry Medvedev, the president of Russia from 2008 to 2012 and prime minister from 2012 to 2020. He is currently the vice-chairman of the Russian Security Council. Medvedev, who has been on social media in recent years posting incredibly nasty comments targeting the US, said in X (previously on Twitter) that Trump’s recent threat to sanction Russia, including the tariff ultimate, is a “step towards war.”
I’m seeking a ceasefire
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Putin himself has frequently resorted to nuclear threats. The Kremlin has repeatedly suggested that Moscow can use nuclear weapons under certain circumstances.
The latest Spatt follows Trump’s trip to Scotland, where he says he is reducing his 50-day deadline to reach a new 10- or 12-day deadline in order to help Russia try to end the war with Ukraine. The deadline is August 8th. Trump warned of “very harsh” sanctions on Russia if they do not commit to a ceasefire.
Prior to the deadline, Steve Witkov, the special envoy of Trump’s real estate mogul and cryptocurrency trader, who became Trump’s de facto roaming mass, is scheduled to visit Russia on August 6th.
Peskov said Russia considers Witkov’s visit “significant, substantial and beneficial,” raising the possibility that Witkov could see President Vladimir Putin for consultation. Witkov made multiple trips to Moscow at Trump’s request.
After one of his trips he returned with a portrait of Trump, given to him by Putin. During another visit, Witkov, who does not speak Russian, arrived without a translator and relied on what was provided by the Kremlin. His last trip was in April.
Trump added to reporters if the August 8 deadline arrives and Russia does not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, “There will be sanctions, but they seem pretty good at avoiding sanctions.”
“You know, they’re wi characters. …Let’s see what happens.”
