 "‘Reckless, unfitting of a world power’: US slams Putin aide for stoking World War-3 fears")
The United States has shot back at Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aide Dmitry Medvedev over his reference to World War III while responding to US President Donald Trump’s comments that his Russian counterpart was “playing with fire” by refusing a ceasefire with Ukraine in the over-three-year war.
Medvedev criticised the US president for how he described Putin in the context of the delay in arriving at a truce with Ukraine. Medvedev said, “Regarding Trump’s words about Putin "playing with fire" and “really bad things” happening to Russia. I only know of one REALLY BAD thing — WWIII.”
Regarding Trump's words about Putin "playing with fire" and "really bad things" happening to Russia. I only know of one REALLY BAD thing — WWIII.
— Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) May 27, 2025
I hope Trump understands this!
In response, Trump’s envoy Keith Kellogg on Wednesday scolded Medvedev for stoking fears of World War Three. “Stoking fears of WW III is an unfortunate, reckless comment… and unfitting of a world power,” Kellogg said on X.
“President Trump @POTUS is working to stop this war and end the killing. We await receipt of RU Memorandum (Term Sheet) that you promised a week ago. Cease fire now,” he said.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsEarlier, as Russian forces advanced in Ukraine, Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said that Putin was playing with fire and cautioned that “REALLY BAD” things would have happened already to Russia if it was not for Trump himself.
The Trump administration is mulling new sanctions on Russia as peace talks reach nowhere, with the president now doubling down on Putin for delaying the negotiations and calling him “absolutely CRAZY”.
Diplomatic efforts to end the war have intensified in recent weeks, but Putin has been accused of stalling peace talks.
“What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!” Trump said on his Truth Social network.
Trump did not specify what the “really bad” things were.
Trump is considering imposing new sanctions on Russia out of frustration with Putin’s lack of will to make peace in Ukraine, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The newspaper reported that new sanctions are unlikely to include banking sanctions and it is also possible that Trump may not decide to impose sanctions at all, while noting that the sanctions aim to pressure Putin into negotiating.
Additionally, Trump is growing tired of the lack of significant progress in peace talks and may abandon efforts altogether, having already ended his previous shuttle diplomacy.
Meanwhile, civilians including women and children were injured in what it said were Ukrainian drone strikes. Russian air defenses destroyed 2,331 Ukrainian drones between May 20 and 27, it said.
Fresh drone attacks were also reported overnight to Wednesday.
Russian authorities said 130 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted, including 18 heading towards Moscow.
With inputs from agencies
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