United States President Donald Trump has announced that he has directed two nuclear submarines to be strategically positioned near Russia following “inflammatory” remarks by the country’s former president and current deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, regarding the war in Ukraine.

“I have ordered two Nuclear Submarines to be positioned in the appropriate regions, just in case these foolish and inflammatory statements are more than just that,” Mr Trump said in a Truth Social post on Friday. “Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences, I hope this will not be one of those instances. Thank you for your attention to this matter!.”

Mr Trump’s decision followed the recent threats made against the United States by Mr Medvedev, an ally of President Vladimir Putin, earlier this week, after the American leader threatened a new wave of sanctions on Russia if the European country doesn’t end its war in Ukraine within a 10-day ultimatum.

In response to the ultimatum, Mr Medvedev warned Mr Trump against playing the time game with Russia, noting that the country is not Iran and Israel and every threat made by the United States is a step towards war between the two nuclear powers. 

“Trump’s playing the ultimatum game with Russia: 50 days or 10. He should remember 2 things: 1. Russia isn’t Israel or even Iran. 2. Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war. Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country. Don’t go down the Sleepy Joe road!,” Mr Medvedev said on X. 

According to CNN, it was not immediately clear if Mr Trump was referring to submarines with nuclear weapon capabilities, or merely nuclear powered submarines. It is nearly impossible to ascertain the current location of American submarines and its nuclear capabilities, which is a tightly-held secret by the Pentagon.