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Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov addressed Trump’s comments, made last Friday, in which the US president announced the deployment of the submarines in response to "highly provocative" remarks by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Trump did not specify whether the submarines were nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed, prompting speculation. The USS Kentucky, a US ballistic missile submarine, was referenced in connection to the announcement.
"American submarines are on combat duty anyway," Peskov said, downplaying the move. "We do not want to be involved in polemics." He urged caution in handling nuclear rhetoric, noting that such issues are "very complex, very sensitive" and often emotionally charged.
Trump’s order followed Medvedev’s accusation that the US president was "playing the ultimatum game" with Russia after Trump set a new deadline for Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine by August 8. Medvedev, known for his increasingly inflammatory online rhetoric, has not posted on X since the comment that sparked Trump’s response. Peskov clarified that Russian foreign policy is determined solely by Putin, distancing the Kremlin from Medvedev’s remarks.
Tensions between Washington and Moscow have fluctuated since Trump took office in January 2025, with initial improvements in US-Russia relations giving way to skepticism from Trump about Putin’s commitment to ending the Ukraine conflict, which began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022. Trump has threatened severe tariffs on Russian oil and other exports if a ceasefire is not reached by the Friday deadline, alongside secondary sanctions to deter other nations from trading with Moscow. However, he acknowledged Russia’s resilience, noting it has become "pretty good at avoiding sanctions" despite being the most sanctioned country globally.
Peskov welcomed Witkoff’s upcoming visit, calling it "important, meaningful, and useful." He suggested a possible meeting between Witkoff and Putin, signaling continued diplomatic engagement despite the looming deadline.
The war in Ukraine remains deadlocked, with three rounds of talks since spring failing to yield progress. Russia’s demands, including Ukraine’s neutrality, military reduction, and abandonment of NATO aspirations, are unacceptable to Kyiv and its Western allies. Putin reiterated last week that Russia’s goal is to "eradicate the reasons for the crisis in Ukraine and ensure Russia’s security," underscoring the wide gap between the two sides.
As the deadline approaches, the international community watches closely, with Witkoff’s visit potentially pivotal in determining whether diplomacy can avert further escalation.
