WASHINGTON — The Kremlin tried Monday to defuse tensions caused by remarks from one of Russia’s top officials that led President Trump to shift two nuclear submarines closer to Moscow.
“Overall, of course, we do not wish to be drawn into such discussion or comment on it. We approach any statements related to nuclear issues with great caution,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to the official TASS news agency. “As you know, Russia holds a responsible position. President Putin’s stance is well known.”
“Russia takes the issue of nuclear non-proliferation very seriously,” Peskov added. “And, of course, we believe that everyone should be extremely careful when it comes to nuclear rhetoric.”
“As you know, Russia holds a responsible position. President Putin’s stance is well known,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, according to the official TASS news agency.
“Russia takes the issue of nuclear non-proliferation very seriously,” Peskov added. “And, of course, we believe that everyone should be extremely careful when it comes to nuclear rhetoric.”
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev had taunted Trump last week in a flurry of posts on X about the US possibly deploying additional sanctions on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine — insisting that “each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war.”
Medvedev, now deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, previously warned Trump of World War III in May in response to the US president’s criticisms of Putin.
On Friday, Trump responded by announcing he was moving two nuclear submarines to “appropriate regions.”
“I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that,” he posted on Truth Social, without further detailing where the vessels had been positioned or whether he was referring to nuclear-powered or nuclear-armed submarines.
Trump confirmed to The Post later Friday that he moved the submarines in response to Medvedev “talking about nuclear.”
“When you talk about nuclear, you have to be prepared. And we’re totally prepared,” the president said as he left the White House to spend the weekend at his Bedminster, NJ golf club.
Peskov tried to downplay Trump’s order on Monday, pointing out that “US submarines are already on combat duty” regardless of where the president orders them to go.
“This is an ongoing process,” Peskov added.
Trump special envoy Steve Witkoff is due in Russia Wednesday in hopes of convincing Putin to commit to a cease-fire in Ukraine ahead of a Friday deadline for Trump to impose secondary sanctions on Moscow’s trading partners