Kremlin spokesman says ‘everyone should be extremely cautious with nuclear rhetoric’ amid Trump–Medvedev exchange

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a press briefing that Russia “does not wish to become involved” in an exchange with the United States over nuclear threats. His comments came after U.S. President Donald Trump announced he was deploying two nuclear-powered submarines toward Russia in response to social media posts by former President Dmitry Medvedev, who had threatened the use of nuclear weapons.

“Russia treats the issue of nuclear nonproliferation with great care, and we believe everyone should be extremely cautious with nuclear rhetoric,” Peskov told reporters.

Commenting on Trump’s decision, he added: “American submarines are already on combat duty — that’s a constant process. We don’t believe this is a case of any sort of escalation.”

Peskov was also asked whether the Kremlin planned to advise Medvedev to tone down his public statements on foreign policy. He replied: “In every country, members of the leadership have different views on what’s happening. Some people take a very, very hardline stance toward the U.S. and European countries — that’s always the case.”

Still, he emphasized that Russia’s foreign policy is determined by President Vladimir Putin, and that his position should be regarded as definitive.

The social media clash between Trump and Medvedev began after the U.S. president issued a new ultimatum, demanding that Russia end its war against Ukraine within 10 days. When Medvedev criticized the ultimatum, Trump called him a “failed former President” and warned him to “watch his words.” In response, Medvedev invoked the so-called “Dead Hand” — Russia’s automated nuclear retaliation system. Trump then announced that, in light of Medvedev’s “provocative statements,” he was sending two nuclear submarines to “appropriate regions.”

Putin himself has frequently resorted to nuclear threats. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kremlin has repeatedly suggested that it could use nuclear weapons under certain circumstances. In addition, Russia has revised its nuclear doctrine and deployed warheads in Belarus. Western governments and Ukraine have accused Moscow of engaging in “nuclear blackmail.”