Medvedev's Warning After Submarine Deployment: 'Expect Further Steps'

Russia has lifted its ban on deploying short- and medium-range missiles. According to former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev, this is just the beginning: "This is a new reality that all our adversaries will have to reckon with. Expect further steps," he wrote on X.

Last Friday, President Donald Trump announced that he would send two nuclear submarines to "appropriate areas" in response to Russia's refusal to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine.

On X, former Russian President Dmitri Medvedev responded to the announcement: "Every new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country."

Since then, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has attempted to calm the situation, stating that everyone "should be cautious with nuclear rhetoric."

However, tensions are escalating.

'Expect Further Steps'

On Monday, Russia's Foreign Ministry announced that the country is lifting its ban on deploying short- and medium-range missiles. The ministry noted that the conditions for maintaining a unilateral ban have changed since the U.S. began deploying such missiles in Asia and Europe.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the news agency Tass that the Western world has not "appreciated Moscow's previous restraint." Meanwhile, several media outlets report that Vladimir Putin has already moved at least four Russian bombers closer to Europe.

The U.S. Has Already Withdrawn

On X, Medvedev further escalated the rhetoric on Monday, announcing that more measures from Russia are to be expected: "This is a new reality that all our adversaries will have to reckon with. Expect further steps."

The U.S. withdrew from the so-called INF Treaty on medium-range missile disarmament, which was concluded during the Cold War, in August 2019. Subsequently, Russia declared a unilateral moratorium, stating that it would not deploy such missiles unless the U.S. did so.