President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he has ordered two nuclear submarines to be repositioned in response to what he termed "highly provocative statements" made by Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council. Trump made the announcement via a post on his social media platform, stating that the submarines would be placed in "the appropriate regions" but did not specify their exact locations or capabilities.

In his post, Trump referenced Medvedev's remarks, which he interpreted as a potential threat. "Based on the highly provocative statements of the Former President of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, 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," Trump wrote. He added, "Words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences; I hope this will not be one of those instances."

The tensions escalated after Trump set a new deadline for Russia to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine, reducing the timeframe from 50 days to just 10. Medvedev responded by warning that Trump's ultimatum could lead to war, stating, "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."

This announcement comes amid ongoing frustrations from Trump regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin's handling of the war in Ukraine. Recently, Russia has intensified its military actions, launching a significant number of drones and missiles into Ukraine.

Security analysts have characterized Trump's order as a rhetorical escalation rather than a direct military action, noting that the U.S. already has nuclear-powered submarines capable of striking Russia. The U.S. Navy and Pentagon have not commented on the specifics of Trump's announcement or the movement of submarines, as such details are typically classified.

Trump's comments have raised concerns among security experts, who argue that discussing nuclear capabilities can be irresponsible. Daryl Kimball, executive director of the Arms Control Association, criticized the rhetoric, stating, "No leader or deputy leader should be threatening nuclear war, let alone in a juvenile manner on social media."

Despite the heightened rhetoric, some analysts believe that the situation is more about signaling than an actual escalation toward nuclear conflict. Evelyn Farkas, a former senior Pentagon official, remarked that while Trump's actions are significant, they are unlikely to change Russia's course in Ukraine.

As the situation develops, it remains unclear how Russia will respond to Trump's ultimatum and military posturing. The Kremlin has not indicated any willingness to comply with Trump's demands, and Putin has expressed that the momentum of the war is currently in Russia's favor.