In an unprecedented move, former U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines “closer to Russia,” dramatically escalating tensions after a fiery exchange of threats and insults with Russian official Dmitry Medvedev over the Ukraine war and sanctions.
The former president, who remains a dominant figure in American politics and a leading 2024 Republican contender, made the announcement on his Truth Social platform, citing “highly provocative statements” by Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia’s security council.
“Based on the highly provocative statements, 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.
He warned that “words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences,” adding: “I hope this will not be one of those instances.”
While Trump did not specify whether the submarines are nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed, the U.S. Navy’s nuclear fleet plays a critical role in America’s nuclear triad and is typically kept under strict secrecy regarding location.
Later in an interview with Newsmax, Trump confirmed the submarines were “closer to Russia,” asserting it was a precautionary move. “We always want to be ready,” he said, “I just want to make sure that [Medvedev’s] words are only words and nothing more than that.”
The clash erupted after Medvedev posted veiled nuclear threats on Telegram, referencing the Cold War-era “Dead Hand” — Russia’s automated nuclear retaliation system.
He was reacting to Trump’s recent call for Moscow to end the war in Ukraine or face new sanctions, which Trump warned would be triggered by next week if no progress is made.
Trump had earlier mocked the “dead economies” of Russia and India, prompting Medvedev to brand him as playing a dangerous “ultimatum game” and to remind him of Russia’s nuclear capabilities.
In response, Trump dismissed Medvedev as a “failed former President of Russia” and warned him to “watch his words,” calling the current rhetoric “very dangerous territory.”
The verbal confrontation came as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the mass production of the Oreshnik hypersonic missile — a nuclear-capable weapon Moscow says could be deployed to Belarus by year-end.
Speaking alongside Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin said missile sites were already being prepared.
Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine rages on. On Thursday, a combined missile and drone attack on Kyiv left 31 civilians dead, including five children. The city observed a day of mourning on Friday. July saw a record number of Russian drone strikes on Ukraine, according to AFP analysis.
Despite international pressure, Putin reaffirmed his hardline demands for ending the conflict: Ukraine must surrender territory and abandon its NATO ambitions. “We want peace,” Putin said, “but our conditions remain unchanged.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky renewed his call for direct talks with Putin, expressing readiness for U.S.-backed negotiations. “The United States has proposed this. Ukraine has supported it. What is needed is Russia’s readiness,” he posted on X.
As tensions soar between the world’s two largest nuclear powers, Trump’s decision to publicly link a social media spat with strategic military movements marks a stark departure from diplomatic norms, raising fresh concerns about the risks of rhetoric colliding with real-world consequences.
