Trump moves nuclear subs after Medvedev comments
US President Donald Trump has been sparring with the former Russian president on social media. Photo: Reuters
US President Donald Trump ordered the deployment of two nuclear submarines on Friday in an extraordinary escalation of what had been an online war of words with a Russian official over Ukraine and tariffs.
Trump and Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's security council, have been sparring on social media for days.
Trump's post on his Truth Social platform abruptly took that spat into the very real -- and rarely publicised -- sphere of nuclear forces.
"Based on the highly provocative statements," Trump said he had "ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that."
"Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances," the 79-year-old Republican posted.
The nuclear sabre rattling came against the backdrop of a deadline set by Trump for the end of next week for Russia to take steps to ending the conflict in Ukraine or face unspecified new sanctions.
Despite the pressure from Washington, Russia's onslaught against its pro-Western neighbour continues to unfold at full-bore.
An AFP analysis on Friday showed that Russian forces had fired a record number of drones at Ukraine in July.
Russian attacks have killed hundreds of Ukrainian civilians since June. A combined missile and drone attack on the Ukrainian capital Kyiv early Thursday killed 31 people, including five children, said rescuers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has consistently rejected calls for a ceasefire, said Friday that he wants peace but that his demands for ending his nearly three-and-a-half year invasion were "unchanged".
Those demands include that Ukraine abandon territory and end ambitions to join Nato. (AFP)
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