Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
The question is who will blink first, as we get closer to the 50-day deadline.
The question is who will blink first, as we get closer to the 50-day deadline.
What is happening?
Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president and current deputy chair of its Security Council, dismissed Donald Trump’s recent warning to Russia as a “theatrical ultimatum.”
In a scathing social media post, he declared that Moscow simply “didn’t care” what the U.S. president had to say.
Trump Threatens Secondary Tariffs Over Ukraine
At a White House briefing, Trump announced plans for punitive tariffs unless Russia agrees to a peace deal with Ukraine within 50 days.
Though short on specifics, he described the penalties as “secondary tariffs,” targeting nations that continue to trade with Russia in a bid to economically isolate the Kremlin.
U.S. Arms Supplies to Ukraine to Surge
Alongside his tariff threat, Trump pledged that European allies would purchase “billions and billions” worth of American-made military equipment.
These weapons would be sent to Ukraine to replenish its depleted arsenal, further escalating Western support for Kyiv.
NATO and the U.S. Show United Front
Trump’s remarks were made during a joint appearance with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office.
The presence of the alliance’s chief signaled a strong message of transatlantic unity as Russia’s war in Ukraine grinds on.
Trump Expresses Growing Frustration with Putin
Trump offered a glimpse into his personal rapport with Vladimir Putin, lamenting their conversations as “very pleasant” while noting that missile attacks continue nightly.
“It just keeps going on and on and on,” he told reporters, sounding increasingly exasperated.
Medvedev Dismisses the Global Reaction
In a sardonic post on X (formerly Twitter), Medvedev mocked Western anticipation of Trump’s warning, quipping,
“The world shuddered, expecting the consequences. Belligerent Europe was disappointed. Russia didn’t care.”
The Return of Medvedev’s Firebrand Persona
Once viewed as a pragmatic modernizer, Medvedev has embraced a hawkish image since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
His social media is now a hotbed of inflammatory rhetoric, aimed squarely at the West and Ukraine.
From Moderate to Mouthpiece
During his presidency from 2008 to 2012, Medvedev was considered relatively reform-minded.
But since stepping aside for Putin’s return, he’s pivoted to hardline nationalism—often echoing or amplifying the Kremlin’s most aggressive stances.
Nuclear Threats and Crude Insults
Medvedev’s recent posts have included open threats of nuclear war, vulgar attacks on Ukrainian leadership, and calls for Ukraine’s total destruction.
These statements have shocked international observers and fueled speculation about his motivations.
A Bid to Stay Politically Relevant?
Analysts suggest Medvedev’s outbursts may be more about self-preservation than ideology.
With ongoing whispers about shifts within Putin’s inner circle, some believe the former president is angling to maintain his influence by aligning himself with the most extreme voices in Moscow.
