Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warns that Trump's ultimatum for a peace deal in Ukraine could escalate to war. Trump's threat of 100% tariffs on Russian goods has already impacted the Russian ruble, marking its largest drop this year. Meanwhile, the U.S. has sent a strong military signal by placing nuclear weapons in the UK for the first time since 2008.
Russia Warns Trump: Sanctions Threat Could Lead to War
Russia Warns Trump: Sanctions Threat Could Lead to War
Trump threatens Russia with severe sanctions if a peace agreement is not reached. The threat is not well-received in Moscow.
– Trump must remember that Russia is not Israel or Iran, and all ultimatums are a step closer to war, says former President Dmitry Medvedev according to Tass.
On Monday, Trump met with the UK's Prime Minister Keir Starmer in Scotland.
During the subsequent press conference, the president announced that his patience with Vladimir Putin is over regarding an end to the war in Ukraine.
– I will reduce the 50 days I gave him to a smaller number, says Trump, giving Putin 10-12 days from Monday.
He also issued a concrete warning. If Putin does not end the war, the U.S. will impose 100% tariffs on Russian goods, and equally large tariffs on goods from countries trading with Russia, was the message.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky thanks Trump on social media.
But the threat is not well-received in Moscow.
Medvedev: “Step Towards War”
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of Putin, says later on Monday that Trump's threat could lead to war.
– Trump must remember that Russia is not Israel or Iran, and all ultimatums are a step closer to war, he says according to Tass.
When Trump gave his first deadline to Russia, the country's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov responded that new sanctions will not affect Russia.
– We will continue on our independent, sovereign, and stable course, he said then according to RT.
Ruble Plummets – Largest Drop This Year
The Russian ruble falls after Trump's threat of increased tariffs. According to Moscow Times, the ruble lost value against several currencies.
The dollar rose by 4% against the ruble, the euro rose by 1.3%, and the Chinese yuan rose by 2.55%, making it more expensive for Russians to buy foreign currency.
It is the largest drop for the ruble this year.
– It could affect oil supply, which will reduce the already limited inflow of foreign currency from exports, says analyst Dmitry Babin to the newspaper.
Signal to Russia: Moving Nuclear Weapons
On Monday, Bloomberg reports that the U.S. sent a clear military signal to Russia. According to the news channel, the U.S. has placed nuclear weapons on British soil for the first time since 2008.
The move was made ten days ago when a cargo plane led by the 62nd Operations Group– the only unit capable of moving nuclear weapons by air– took off from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and landed in Lakenheath, UK.
– The decision to leave the flight transponders on suggests that the U.S. wants to show Russia that it is not reducing its nuclear capacity in Europe, says defense analyst William Alberque to Bloomberg.
According to Alberque, it is likely that the delivery included the new thermonuclear B61-12 bombs.
– Those bombs can help limit the effect of Russia's large advantage in non-strategic nuclear weapons at the regional level, he says.
Tactical nuclear weapons are intended for use on the battlefield or in a limited geographic area. Strategic nuclear weapons are larger and meant to destroy enemy cities, industrial complexes, or nuclear systems at long distances.