Trump Comments on Nuclear Submarines Ahead of Witkov’s Visit to Russia
President Donald Trump stated on Sunday that the nuclear submarine deployment ordered to counter Russia was already in the region ahead of Steve Witkov’s planned visit. Before embarking on Air Force One in Allentown, Pennsylvania, he responded to questions about whether the submarines were stationed to confront Russia.
On Friday, Trump had mentioned that he ordered two nuclear submarines to be “placed in the right area” following what he called a “provocative statement” from former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev regarding a potential war with the United States. “They’re in the area, where they have to be,” he told the press at Lehigh Valley International Airport.
Witkov’s travel to Russia is expected on Wednesday or Thursday, with Russian state media confirming the Wednesday arrival. His visit coincides with a key Friday deadline for Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine or else face additional sanctions. Trump has hinted at potential secondary tariffs on Russian energy buyers.
Trump emphasized that, while there are sanctions, Russia often manages to evade them. “They’re pretty good at avoiding sanctions,” he commented, suggesting that Witkov could convey a message to Moscow to halt hostilities. He noted, “A huge number of Russian soldiers have been killed. And on the Ukrainian side, while fewer, still thousands are impacted.” He expressed a desire to mitigate the ongoing conflict, calling it a “really scary war.”
Despite warnings from Trump about Medvedev’s “dangerous territory,” Russian officials have reiterated their positions regarding military preparedness. The ongoing military tensions, particularly concerning nuclear capabilities, highlight the gravity of the situation, as both the U.S. and Russia possess the largest nuclear arsenals globally.
Recently, there’s been an observable deepening of ties between China and Russia, particularly as China supports Russia amidst Western sanctions post-Ukraine invasion. However, Xiao Gang, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Defense, downplayed the intentions behind recent joint military exercises in the Sea of Japan, stating that these events fall within the annual cooperation plan and are not aimed at any third parties.
In light of these developments, defense officials in Japan have expressed rising concerns over China and Russia’s growing military collaboration.
