Moscow Warns of World War III After Trump&rsquo;s Broadside at Putin
In an alarming escalation of rhetoric between Washington and Moscow, a senior Russian official has issued a dire warning of a potential world war following former U.S. President Donald Trump's harsh criticism of Vladimir Putin&rsquo;s stance on the Ukraine conflict.
Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia&rsquo;s Security Council and a close ally of Putin, responded sharply after Trump accused the Russian president of &ldquo;playing with fire&rdquo; by rejecting overtures for ceasefire talks with Kyiv. Medvedev, who previously served as president of Russia and now often serves as the Kremlin&rsquo;s uncompromising public voice, countered Trump&rsquo;s remarks with a grim invocation of global conflict. &ldquo;I only know of one REALLY BAD thing &mdash; World War III,&rdquo; Medvedev posted on social media, framing it as a direct warning to the former U.S. president.
Trump&rsquo;s provocative comments came amid growing frustration over the continuing bloodshed in Ukraine and Putin&rsquo;s refusal to entertain peace initiatives. In a characteristically charged post on his platform Truth Social, Trump claimed that had it not been for his prior leadership, Russia would have already faced catastrophic consequences. He further declared that Putin had &ldquo;gone absolutely CRAZY,&rdquo; accusing him of recklessly targeting Ukrainian cities with drones and missiles and warning that Russia&rsquo;s war ambitions would lead to its own ruin.
Trump, who has often touted his rapport with the Russian leader, appears to have made a significant pivot in tone, reflecting not just political calculation but an underlying concern about Moscow&rsquo;s accelerating aggression and disregard for diplomatic openings. His latest remarks follow months of unproductive peace efforts, including a failed attempt at dialogue brokered by the Vatican. The Holy See had offered to mediate direct talks between Ukraine and Russia, with the initiative receiving backing from key Western leaders. However, Moscow dismissed the offer, deepening skepticism over its willingness to compromise.
Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to bear the brunt of Russia&rsquo;s military onslaught. In a recent briefing, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported a staggering barrage of over 900 attack drones, as well as ballistic and cruise missiles, unleashed in just three days &mdash; a grim testament to the war&rsquo;s intensifying scale.
What makes the latest exchange between Trump and Medvedev especially fraught is not just the personal rancor, but the strategic implications. With one side warning of nuclear consequences and the other declaring Putin&rsquo;s judgment impaired, the rhetoric underscores a renewed volatility in U.S.-Russia relations. As the war in Ukraine grinds on with no resolution in sight, these public outbursts risk further fraying the already fragile threads of international stability.

Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, Russia

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May 28, 2025 | 15:51 IST