Russian Lawmaker Responds to Trump Moving Nuclear Subs
Russian legislator Viktor Vodolatsky responded to President Donald Trump’s decision to move two American nuclear submarines to “appropriate regions” near Russia saying that Moscow can count on many more submarines than Washington.
“There are much more of our [nuclear] submarines in the oceans of the world, [and they] Having the most powerful and powerful weapons, “Vodolatsky, which is also the first vice-president of the State Duma Commission on the Commonwealth of Independent Affairs, integration and Eurasian relations with the compatriots, told the news agency controlled by the government of Russia, TASS.
“That’s why, leave [Trump’s] Two boats float, they have been under the threat of a firearm for a long time, “he added.
Why it matters
Friday, the provocative comments of Vodolatsky followed the announcement of the American president of the repositioning of two US nuclear submarines near Russia. The announcement itself can be considered the last escalation in the increasingly sour relationship between Moscow and Washington, which has worsened in recent weeks while Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared with a repeated demand from Trump to end the war in Ukraine.
Win McNamee / Getty images
Despite Trump’s declared admiration for Putin and his willingness to accept the end of the war in Ukraine which would undoubtedly promote Moscow in kyiv, the relationship between the two leaders has been blown in recent weeks, and tensions are now high between the two countries.
The two holding a significant nuclear arsenal, the threats exchanged between them have a particularly heavy weight.
What to know
Trump said Thursday if Russia did not accept a cease-fire in Ukraine by Friday August 8, it will impose a set of economic sanctions in the country. Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now Moscow’s military leader, responded to the announcement on social networks on Friday, saying that Trump’s threat was “a step towards war”.
This sparked Trump’s announcement on nuclear submarines. Friday, the American president wrote on his social media platform Truth Social: “I ordered to position two nuclear submarines in the appropriate regions, just in case these stupid and inflammatory statements are more than that.”
It is not clear if the American submarines have moved to “appropriate regions” unidentified near Russia are nuclear or nuclear.
What people say
President Donald Trump Written on Truth Social Friday: “The words are very important and can often lead to involuntary consequences, I hope that it will not be one of these cases.”
Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev wrote on X, formerly Twitter, the same day: “Trump plays the ultimatum game with Russia: 50 or 10. He should remember two things: 1. Russia is not Israel or even Iran. 2. Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with its own country.
Vodolatsky told Tass: “There can be no response from us, because we understand perfectly well who is Donald Trump. These last months have shown that he changes his mind 24 hours a day.”
Russia and China perform anti-Submarine exercises
On Sunday, the Russian and Chinese navies would have performed artillery and anti-sous-marine exercises in the Japan Sea. These joint exercises cannot, however, be considered directly linked to growing comments between Trump and Russian legislators, as they were planned beforehand.
The exercises included a large Russian anti-submarine ship and two Chinese destroyers, according to the Interfax news agency.
What happens next
Although there were comments from Medvedev and Vodolatsky, Putin did not respond to Trump’s ultimatum or her decision to move nuclear submarines. On Friday, however, the Russian president said: “As for any disappointment on the part of anyone, all disappointments arise from swollen expectations. This is a well -known general rule.”
It’s hard to say if Trump’s nuclear submarine announces more tensions with Russia, but some experts have said it will not make a difference, because the United States had already deployed submarines, including near Russia.
Update, 8/3/2025 9:45 am and: This article has been updated with new information on joint exercises involving the Russian and Chinese navies.
