Kathrine Frich
He usually stands firmly as one of the most aggressive figures inside the Kremlin.
When former leaders step out of the top job, they often fade quietly into the background to write memoirs.
Others take a very different path and choose to turn up the volume instead.
One prominent political figure has clearly decided on the latter approach.
Shouting from the sidelines
Dmitry Medvedev once served as both the president and prime minister of Russia. Today, he holds the powerful role of deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council.
His current public persona is a far cry from his earlier political years. He now stands firmly as one of the most aggressive figures inside the Kremlin.
According to The Moscow Times, the politician frequently focuses on the concept of absolute national supremacy. He recently outlined a stark vision for his nation’s future on the global stage.
“Our country can either be a great power or it won’t exist at all. Such are the laws of history,” Medvedev said.
Pushing the boundaries
This kind of fierce rhetoric has become his standard playbook. Following the Ukrainian army’s push into Kherson in 2022, he demanded that the world pay close attention.
He insisted that Moscow must constantly remind its “enemies, near and far” about the “greatness and boundlessness of the Russian world.” The Moscow Times noted his fondness for this specific theme.
Since the conflict in Ukraine began, Medvedev has consistently targeted Western nations with severe warnings. He regularly brings up the possibility of using nuclear weapons.
Just recently, he suggested a direct military attack on Berlin. This early September threat targeted German weapons factories after rumours circulated about Russian involvement in an incident at Leipzig airport.
Targeting neighbours directly
His aggressive warnings often focus on nearby borders. The former president recently directed his intense anger toward a Baltic neighbour.
He warned that Moscow would take extreme action if nuclear weapons were ever placed inside Lithuania. He even openly doubted whether NATO would actually step up to defend its member states under the Article 5 agreement.
“Lithuania will disappear from the world map,” Medvedev stated bluntly.
Terms of the deal
He has aimed similar nuclear warnings directly at Kyiv and the wider NATO military alliance. The daily rhetoric paints a picture of a deeply entrenched political elite.
Despite all the heavy threats, Medvedev claims that Moscow actually wants the fighting to stop. He says Russian leadership is interested in finishing the conflict quickly.
But there is always a catch with these statements. He insists that any end to the fighting will only happen strictly on Russian terms.
Sources: The Moscow Times
