US President Donald Trump warns that Russia’s Vladimir Putin is ‘playing with fire’ and suggests that Russia’s avoidance of ‘really bad things’ is due to his intervention.
Dmitry Medvedev replied to Trump, declaring that World War III is the only ‘REALLY BAD thing’, and urged Trump to understand the severity of the situation.
“What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that without my intervention, many terrible things would have already happened in Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Medvedev retorted, “Regarding Trump’s words about Putin ‘playing with fire’ and ‘really bad things’ for Russia. The only REALLY BAD thing I see is WWIII. I hope Trump understands the gravity of this!”, on the platform X.
Responding to Trump’s comments about Putin ‘playing with fire’ and ‘really bad things’ for Russia. The only REALLY BAD thing is WWIII. I hope Trump grasps the seriousness!
— Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) [May 27, 2025]
Dmitry Medvedev, currently the deputy head of Russia’s Security Council and a staunch ally of Putin, is recognized for his aggressive comments. He has consistently warned about the possibility of Moscow using its nuclear weapons during Russia’s conflict with Ukraine.
Putin himself mentioned the threat of a nuclear confrontation in a national address in March 2024, cautioning Western countries against sending troops to aid Ukraine due to Russia’s nuclear capabilities.
“Medvedev’s rebuke of Trump follows the US president’s statement that Putin had ‘gone absolutely CRAZY’ after lethal Russian airstrikes on Ukraine, despite calls for a ceasefire and Washington’s efforts to mediate a peace deal,” the article notes.
As the prospect of a quick end to the Russia-Ukraine war fades, Ukraine suffered a defeat on the battlefield, with Russia capturing several villages in the Sumy region of northeastern Ukraine.
Sumy Governor Oleh Hryhorov reported that Novenke, Basivka, Veselivka, and Zhuravka were occupied by Russia, with residents evacuated beforehand. Russia’s Defence Ministry also claimed the capture of Bilovody, indicating further advancements into Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials have been reporting Russian attempts to penetrate the Sumy region, with the regional capital Sumy lying just under 30 km (19 miles) from the Russian border.
Additionally, Russian forces have broadened their assault area along the front line, using small groups on motorcycles and support from aerial drones, according to a spokesperson for Ukraine’s border guard service.
Last year, Ukraine used Sumy as a base for incursions into Russia’s Kursk region before being ousted by Russian forces in the previous month.
