First Deputy Chairman of the Russian Federation Security Council Medvedev: "The Third World War has not yet begun, but it could start at any moment if Trump continues his current policies."
This is an extremely tough warning. The immediate trigger was the U.S.-U.K. military strike on Iran on March 1, 2026, and the death of an Iranian senior general. This is not just verbal condemnation, but also reveals Moscow's serious judgment on the current global security situation.
Medvedev drew a red line for Trump, opposing regime change: If Trump continues to push for "changing the political system" through "criminal methods," then war will be "inevitable." According to Russia's view, the U.S. actions against Iran have verified the existence of this "regime change model," which has made Russia highly alert, as it also faces pressure from the West.
He sarcastically said that Trump, who boasts of being a "peacekeeper," has "revealed his true colors," calling all negotiations merely a "cover operation." He also used highly insulting words to describe the United States and its allies, saying that this is a war to maintain global dominance, implying that the other side is actually the main culprit behind the escalation of the situation.
Medvedev's remarks can be seen as a subtle nuclear deterrence, warning the United States that if it dares to replicate the "Iran model" in Russia, it must consider the cost of nuclear conflict — "Hiroshima and Nagasaki would be like children playing in the sandbox." This is essentially a nuclear deterrence warning to the United States not to act recklessly.
Medvedev is known for his sharp language, and his statements often convey the Kremlin's bottom-line thinking, part of Russia's psychological warfare and information warfare in its rivalry with the West.
Do not take it too seriously, nor take it too lightly.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1858585509968908/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author alone.