US-Russian Tensions run high and the threat of nuclear war looms as the president presses Russia on its war in Ukraine. “Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, who is now the Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, 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,” Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday, August 1. “Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

President Trump delivered an ultimatum on his trip to Scotland earlier in the week, giving Russia ten days before he imposes additional sanctions on Russia over the war in Ukraine. The administration announced Thursday that White House envoy Steve Witkoff was being sent to Russia to negotiate.

The same day, however, Russia ramped up its attacks on Ukraine, launching more than 300 drones and eight missiles just before dawn. The death toll so far is up to 31. Another 150 have been injured.

“Russia – I think it’s disgusting what they’re doing. I think it’s disgusting,” Trump told reporters on Thursday.

After President Trump’s comments about the sanctions and about how India and Russia could “take their dead economies down together, for all I care,” Russia’s former president and current Security Council Chairman, Dmitry Medvedev, said that just shows Russia is on the right track.

But then he took the talks nuclear.

He reminded Trump that Moscow still has Soviet-era nuclear strike capabilities and to remember “how dangerous the fabled ‘Dead Hand’ can be,” referring to the semi-automated system to launch Russia’s nuclear missiles should the country’s leadership be taken out.

The US president’s reply was for Vladimir Putin: “Tell Medvedev, the failed former president of Russia, who thinks he’s still President, to watch his words. He’s entering very dangerous territory!”

Trump’s deployment of two nuclear submarines near Russia demonstrates just how well he does remember Russia’s strike capabilities – and that he’s taking Medvedev’s words very seriously.