The chairman of Russia’s Security Council called on Moscow to be ready to strike the West if it escalates the war in Ukraine — days after President Trump vowed to ramp up weapon shipments to Kyiv if a cease-fire isn’t reached soon.
Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s former president and top ally of Vladimir Putin, warned that Russia would be ready to respond “in full” should the West get further involved in the conflict that has raged for more than three years.
“We need to act accordingly. To respond in full. And if necessary, launch preemptive strikes,” Medvedev told the state-owned TASS outlet as he claimed that many in the West have “treachery in their blood.”
As he called for Russia to be prepared for war with the West, he also dismissed fears from NATO nations in eastern Europe who worry that they’ll be next on the chopping block should Moscow complete its goal of conquering Ukraine.
The Putin ally slammed the fears — which has prompted countries like Sweden and Finland to bolster their armies — as nothing more than “complete nonsense.”
“What is happening today is a proxy war, but in essence it is a full-scale war (launches of Western missiles, satellite intelligence, etc.), sanctions packages, loud statements about the militarization of Europe,” Medvedev said.
“It’s another attempt to destroy the ‘historical anomaly’ hated by the West — Russia, our country,” he added.
The Kremlin said Medvedev’s remarks were justified given the alleged “confrontational” environment of Europe, with the UK and France recently agreeing to a joint partnership to improve NATO and serve as the blocs’ nuclear defenders.
The tensions come about a year after Putin expanded Moscow’s nuclear doctrine, warning that any nuclear superpower that assists an enemy of Russia with long-range missiles can and should be considered a viable target for the Kremlin’s nukes.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is currently weighing all options after President Trump threatened to slap 100% secondary tariffs on Russia and arm Ukraine with “billions of dollars” of new weapons if Putin does not agree to a peace deal in 50 days.
Putin appeared unfazed by the threats, telling reporters on Tuesday that he intends to keep the war going in Ukraine until Kyiv and the West agree to his terms for a cease-fire.
Moscow has repeatedly stated that it demands all the land it has invaded so far, with Putin calling on Ukraine to demilitarize and abandon all hope of joining NATO.
Until those demands are made, the Kremlin has vowed to keep its invasion going, with Russia already occupying about 20% of Ukraine.
With Post wires
