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“In this case, it is obvious that American submarines are already on combat duty. This is an ongoing process; that’s the first thing,” Peskov said, according to Reuters. “But in general, of course, we would not want to get involved in such a controversy and would not want to comment on it in any way. Of course, we believe that everyone should be very, very careful with nuclear rhetoric.”
Peskov’s comments mirrored Russia’s typical playbook—minimize the optics, pretend nothing is out of the ordinary, and accuse others of the very tactics they employ. Since the start of Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has routinely hinted at nuclear escalation whenever the West shows support for Kyiv. But up to now, it’s been all bark, no bite.
Even so, when asked whether Trump’s remarks should be considered a direct threat, the Kremlin’s response was carefully scripted.
“We do not believe that we are talking about any escalation now. It is clear that very complex, very sensitive issues are being discussed, which, of course, are perceived very emotionally by many people,” Peskov said.
When pressed about whether Medvedev might face discipline for his inflammatory remarks, Peskov made clear that in Putin’s Russia, there’s only one voice that matters: “The main thing, of course, is the position of President Putin.”
Meanwhile, Trump’s trusted envoy Steve Witkoff could be heading to Moscow this week. While previous attempts to mediate peace between Russia and Ukraine have fallen flat, Witkoff’s presence underscores Trump’s continued efforts to be a dealmaker on the world stage.
“We are always happy to see Mr. Witkoff in Moscow and are always happy to have contact. We consider these contacts important, meaningful and very useful,” Peskov told ABC News.
Despite the Kremlin’s attempt to downplay the situation, Trump wasn’t backing down. On Sunday, he confirmed that the U.S. submarines he ordered were already in place.
“I’ve already put out a statement. The answer is, they are in the region,” Trump said, according to USA Today.
When asked about the consequences if a deal can’t be struck, Trump hinted at escalating pressure: “There’ll be sanctions.” But he added, “But they seem to be pretty good at avoiding sanctions. You know, they’re wily characters. … So we’ll see what happens.”
Trump made clear that his goal is to bring an end to the bloodshed, especially as Russia continues to hammer civilian areas in Ukraine. “And now we’re adding towns, where they’re being hit by missiles,” Trump said.
Despite the Kremlin’s soft-spoken response, not all in Russia are taking things lightly. According to Newsweek, Russian lawmaker Viktor Vodolatsky issued a defiant challenge to Trump’s submarine warning.
“There are significantly more of our [nuclear] submarines in the world’s oceans, [and they] have the strongest, most powerful weapons,” Vodolatsky boasted. “This is why, let [Trump’s] two boats float. They have been at gunpoint for a long time,” he added.
While Russia tries to brush off Trump’s maneuver as theater, one thing is certain—when Trump talks tough, the world listens. And this time, his warning came with real muscle beneath the waves.
