7 hours ago
Last Updated:July 17, 2025, 19:08 IST
The former Russian prime minister accused NATO of waging a full-scale war and said Russia won’t hesitate to launch preventative strikes, before tracking back.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Security Council's Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev attend a meeting of the Council for Science and Education at the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in the Moscow region's city of Dubna, Russia. (IMAGE: REUTERS FILE)
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and a key ally of President Vladimir Putin, on Monday accused NATO of waging a “full-scale war" against Russia and suggested Moscow should retaliate with direct strikes on Ukraine’s Western allies if necessary.
“We need to act accordingly. Respond in full. And if necessary, launch preventative strikes," Medvedev was quoted as saying by Russia’s state-run TASS news agency. His remarks followed a fresh escalation in NATO’s support for Kyiv, which Moscow has repeatedly portrayed as Western interference in the Ukraine conflict.
However, in a swift softening of tone, Medvedev appeared to walk back his threat. “Let me remind you that our president has unequivocally stated that Russia has no intention of fighting NATO or ‘attacking Europe’," he later said, reiterating the Kremlin’s official position.
This interview comes just days after US President Donald Trump pledged fresh weapons and ammunition for Ukraine, a move made after he asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy whether Kyiv could strike Moscow.
At a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump warned Russia of “very severe tariffs" if a Ukraine ceasefire deal is not reached within 50 days.
He also declared that the US would manufacture “top-of-the-line weapons" and supply them to NATO, with the costs covered by the European Union.
Under this arrangement, Ukraine would be able to acquire “really massive numbers of military equipment" for air defence, missiles, and ammunition, Rutte said.
The development comes amid reports that Trump is “very unhappy" with Russia and President Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine.
He has reportedly even asked Zelenskyy whether Ukrainian forces could strike Moscow and St Petersburg to “make them feel the pain".
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...Read More
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...
Read More
Moscow, Russia
First Published:News world 'Russia Will Launch Preventative Strikes': Putin Ally Warns NATO, Then Softens Stance
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
