The Kremlin downplays Trump’s submarine order and warns against using nuclear hyperbole
Russia responded Monday to U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he has ordered a repositioning of U.S. nuclear submarines by saying that everyone should be “very, very careful” about nuclear language.
In its initial public response to Trump’s remarks, the Kremlin downplayed their importance and stated that it had no intention of publicly arguing with him.
Following comments by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev regarding the possibility of war between the nuclear-armed enemies, Trump announced on Friday that he has ordered the transfer of two nuclear submarines to “the appropriate regions.”
“It is clear in this instance that American submarines are already serving in battle. To begin with, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, “This is an ongoing process.”
“But in general, of course, we would not want to get involved in such a controversy and would not want to comment on it in any way,” he said. “Of course, we believe that everyone should be very, very careful with nuclear rhetoric.”
At a sensitive time, Trump has threatened to slap fresh sanctions on Russia and its oil consumers, including China and India, unless President Vladimir Putin agrees by Friday to end the war in Ukraine, which has lasted for three and a half years.
Putin indicated that he would not change his stance despite the approaching deadline when he stated last week that although peace negotiations had made some encouraging strides, Russia still held the upper hand in the conflict.
Trump has stated that he might send Steve Witkoff, his ambassador, to Russia on Wednesday or Thursday. Despite having lengthy talks with Putin on multiple prior visits, Witkoff was unable to convince him to accept a ceasefire.
The Kremlin did not state whether his most recent planned trip was being organized at Moscow’s request or what it hoped would come out of it.
We constantly look forward to seeing Mr. Witkoff in Moscow, and we are always pleased to have him as a contact. “They are significant, meaningful, and very helpful,” Peskov stated.
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Trump, who has previously praised Putin and expressed growing dissatisfaction with him, has made repeated promises to terminate the war within 24 hours during his campaign for the U.S. presidency last year.
While Russia has intensified its air attacks on Ukrainian cities, three short sessions of direct peace talks in Turkey have produced no results other than the exchange of war dead and prisoners.
Some Russian and Western security specialists have criticized Trump for taking an online argument with former President Medvedev—a staunch hawk whose remarks are often intended to shock and provoke—to the point of openly debating U.S. nuclear installations.
But according to Peskov, Russia did not interpret Trump’s remarks as a sign of a rise in nuclear tension.
“We don’t think that any escalation is currently in the discussion. He stated, “It is evident that extremely delicate and complicated topics are being discussed, which naturally evoke strong emotions in many people.”
The question of whether the Kremlin had attempted to caution Medvedev to moderate his remarks on the internet was not explicitly addressed by Peskov.
“The main thing, of course, is the position of President Putin,” stated Putin.
