The Kremlin has downplayed fears of a nuclear escalation following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to reposition two nuclear-armed submarines closer to Russian waters.
Speaking to Russia’s state-run TASS news agency, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the move should be interpreted as an emotional response rather than a significant military shift.
“U.S. submarines are permanently on alert, regardless of this latest announcement,” Peskov stated, calling for all parties to exercise restraint in their nuclear-related discourse.
Trump said on Friday that the deployment came in direct response to recent remarks by Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president and current deputy chairman of the country’s Security Council. Medvedev has made increasingly hawkish statements since the onset of the war in Ukraine.
“Leadership in any nation consists of individuals with diverse viewpoints,” Peskov added, clarifying that Russia’s foreign policy remains solely under President Vladimir Putin’s control.
He also acknowledged ongoing American diplomatic initiatives aimed at resolving the conflict. According to Peskov, Putin may meet with Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, later this week.
Trump had initially given the Kremlin a 50-day ultimatum to end the conflict, though U.S. officials have since shortened the deadline, which is now expected to expire on Thursday. Failure to meet the terms may result in sanctions, Trump has warned.
