US President Donald Trump has sharply criticized former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, labeling him a "failed" leader and warning him to "watch his words" in a Truth Social post on Wednesday.
The rebuke follows Medvedev's dismissal of Trump's demands for Russia to negotiate peace in Ukraine or face severe sanctions.
Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, has consistently rejected US ultimatums, asserting Moscow's autonomy in its military objectives.
Medvedev responded defiantly, describing Trump's reaction as "nervous" and a sign that Russia is on the right path.
He mocked Trump's claim that Russia's economy is "dead," emphasizing Moscow's resolve to pursue its national security goals.
Medvedev also referenced Russia's "Dead Hand" nuclear system, a Soviet-era mechanism designed to retaliate automatically in a nuclear conflict, underscoring the high stakes of the escalating war of words.
Russia maintains that peace talks with Ukraine are unfeasible due to Kyiv's inflexible stance.
The exchange highlights growing friction between Washington and Moscow, with Trump's threats of tariffs on Russia and its oil buyers, including India, adding to the strain.
Medvedev's pointed rhetoric and invocation of nuclear capabilities have raised alarms about the risk of miscalculation between the two powers.
As Trump criticizes the BRICS alliance and pushes his trade agenda, the international community watches closely, wary of the broader consequences of this intensifying diplomatic clash.