Key Points – Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev issued a veiled threat of “WWIII” on X (formerly Twitter) this week, seemingly responding to US President Donald Trump’s earlier cryptic Truth Social post warning Vladimir Putin he was “playing with fire” on Ukraine and that worse things could have happened to Russia without Trump’s intervention.
-This exchange occurs as attempts to broker peace in Ukraine falter, despite a recent prisoner swap.
-Russia reportedly seeks written guarantees against further NATO enlargement as a condition for peace. Meanwhile, President Trump expresses growing frustration with Putin’s unwillingness to seriously negotiate, even as his administration withholds new US military aid to Ukraine.
World War III over Ukraine?
Donald Trump was probably the first world leader to use Twitter/X to threaten enemies with war. But he was not, it turns out, the last.
As attempts by Trump and others to bring a peaceful end to Russia’s war in Ukraine continue to bear no fruit, a former president of Russia has weighed in, also on X, in a somewhat threatening manner.
Dmitry Medvedev was the president of Russia between 2008 and 2012, during the brief period when Putin stepped aside; after Putin returned to the Russian presidency, Medvedev became prime minister through 2020, and is now a top security official.
Medvedev took to X this week and declared, “I only know of one REALLY BAD thing — WWIII. I hope Trump understands this!”
This came in response to a cryptic Truth Social post by Trump, who had declared, “What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!’”
Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, the U.S.’s envoy to Ukraine, went on X himself and declared the former Russian president’s statement “an unfortunate, reckless comment,” declaring that the U.S. president is “working to stop this war and end the killing.”
The entire premise of the Cold War, which lasted most of the 20th century, was that the United States and the Soviet Union avoided getting into World War III, despite some near-misses. That leaders of the U.S. and Russia are talking again about that is cause for concern.
Where Things Stand
While Trump had promised on the campaign trail to end the war between Ukraine and Russia in his first 24 hours as president, that didn’t happen, and attempts so far to bring about a ceasefire, or the end of the war, have failed, although the two side did negotiate and carry out a prisoner exchange last week.
Now, Russia has shown little interest in bringing the war to a close, likely believing that they can bleed Ukraine more, now that it’s unlikely that any additional military aid is coming from the U.S.
So what does Russia want?
Per a Reuters report Wednesday, Russia would like assurances about no further enlargement of NATO, to agree to a deal to end the war. Putin would like Western leaders to commit, in writing, to such a pledge.
It would presumably not only preclude Ukraine from becoming a NATO member, but also other countries in Europe as well. Georgia and Moldova, both former USSR republics, are among the countries that have not yet joined NATO.
“Putin is ready to make peace but not at any price,” one senior Russian source told Reuters.
Also, as of now, Russia is drafting a memorandum to “establish the contours of a peace accord, including the timing of a ceasefire.”
Trump Gets Frustrated on Ukraine
Meanwhile, the Washington Post this week reported that Trump, a man whose closeness over the years with Putin has been the subject of both deep analysis and even conspiracy theories, has grown “frustrated” with his Russian counterpart.
“Trump has offered mixed messages about Putin, oscillating between praise of a leader with whom he has said he believes he can do business and frustration about his inability to bring Russia to the bargaining table,” the Post story said about the pair’s evolving relationship.
What remains unclear is exactly what Trump meant by “lots of really bad things” that he saved Putin from.
“There is a choice facing the current administration, which is to authorize additional security assistance for Ukraine so they continue to receive the weapons they need to defend their country,” David Shimer, the former Ukraine director on President Joe Biden’s National Security Council, told the Post.
“Or to chart a different course, which is to let U.S. security assistance wind down, which would disadvantage Ukraine, play to Russia’s advantage, and ultimately embolden and incentivize Russia to keep this war going.”
About the Author: Stephen Silver
Stephen Silver is an award-winning journalist, essayist and film critic, and contributor to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Broad Street Review and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. For over a decade, Stephen has authored thousands of articles that focus on politics, technology, and the economy. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @StephenSilver, and subscribe to his Substack newsletter.
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