Russia has dismissed rising international concerns over a potential nuclear escalation following U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent move to position two American nuclear submarines closer to Russian territory.
Speaking in Moscow on Monday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state news agency TASS that the submarine deployment was an “emotional” reaction rather than a strategic military escalation. “U.S. submarines are always on alert in any case,”
Peskov said. “This move is more symbolic than operational. We urge all sides to act with caution and avoid dangerous rhetoric regarding nuclear issues.”
The statement came in response to President Trump’s announcement last Friday that he had ordered the deployment of two U.S. nuclear submarines to areas near Russia.
Trump said the move was prompted by recent inflammatory comments made by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who now serves as the deputy chairman of the country’s Security Council.
Medvedev has gained international notoriety for his increasingly aggressive remarks since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
His recent threats, interpreted by some analysts as nuclear posturing, drew swift condemnation from Western leaders and appear to have triggered Trump’s decision.
However, Peskov downplayed Medvedev’s influence on state policy, noting, “In any country, members of its leadership hold varying views. But in Russia, foreign policy is the sole domain of President Putin.”
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In a rare note of diplomacy amid mounting tensions, Peskov acknowledged ongoing U.S. diplomatic efforts to resolve the war in Ukraine.
He confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin might meet with Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, later this week for further discussions.
Trump has taken an assertive stance on Russia since returning to office in January 2025. Initially, he gave the Kremlin a 50-day ultimatum to end hostilities in Ukraine.
That deadline has since been shortened, and U.S. officials now say it will expire on Thursday. Trump has threatened to impose sweeping new sanctions if Moscow does not comply.
Despite these developments, the Kremlin has repeatedly insisted that it remains committed to defending what it calls its “national interests” in Ukraine.
At the same time, officials have tried to avoid openly escalating nuclear tensions, likely aware of the risks such rhetoric carries for global stability.
The deployment of U.S. submarines has nonetheless alarmed many in Europe and Asia, where leaders worry that growing brinkmanship could spiral into direct confrontation between the world’s two largest nuclear powers.
NAN
