Medvedev Warns of Pre‑Emptive Strikes If West Escalates

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Russia’s former president and current deputy chair of the Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, has issued a strong warning to the West, saying that Russia must be ready to take pre-emptive action if Western involvement in Ukraine increases.

Medvedev made the comments in an interview with Russia’s TASS news agency, where he expressed serious concerns over what he called growing threats from NATO and European countries. He said that if the situation worsens, Russia would not hesitate to act, including launching pre-emptive strikes to defend itself.

“The reality is that the West has crossed many red lines,” Medvedev said. “Russia needs to be ready to respond at full strength if it is pushed further.”

His remarks come as tensions continue to rise between Russia and Western nations, especially the United States. Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who is currently seeking re-election, recently gave Russian President Vladimir Putin a 50-day deadline to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine. Trump warned that failure to do so would result in the U.S. imposing strict secondary sanctions on any country that continues importing Russian goods.

Medvedev dismissed the West’s warnings as “nonsense” and accused NATO and other Western allies of trying to provoke a wider war. “The idea that Russia wants to strike NATO countries is a lie,” he said. “But we will respond if they keep pushing us.”

The Kremlin echoed Medvedev’s concerns. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the warning reflected Russia’s growing anxiety over what it views as a dangerous increase in military support for Ukraine from European countries and the United States.

Meanwhile, the conflict on the ground in Ukraine is intensifying. Russian air defense systems have reportedly shot down more than 120 Ukrainian drones in a recent wave of attacks. Russia also claimed it had gained control of more territory in eastern Ukraine.

Ukraine is also making moves of its own. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is reshuffling his cabinet and is reportedly in talks with Donald Trump about a major drone technology deal. The plan could see Ukraine supplying the U.S. with battle-tested drones, further strengthening its international defense partnerships.

Medvedev’s latest comments reflect his increasingly hard-line stance in recent years. Once seen as a more moderate leader during his time as president from 2008 to 2012, Medvedev now regularly speaks in aggressive terms about Russia’s military strategy.

As both sides continue to prepare for a possible escalation, global leaders are watching closely. With diplomatic efforts appearing fragile, the risk of a wider conflict remains a serious concern.