Ukraine‘s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s senior aide, Andriy Yermak, has welcomed the United States’ decision to deploy two nuclear-powered submarines near Russian territory. This move comes in response to former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s provocative comments. Yermak noted that Russia’s response has been notably muted since the deployment, stating, “The moment American nuclear submarines appeared, … [he] suddenly went silent. Russia understands only one thing: strength,”.
President Zelenskyy has urged the international community to take stronger action against Russia, emphasizing the need for immediate support to protect Ukrainian lives. He highlighted the brutality of Russian attacks, including deliberate strikes on first responders and medics. “Deliberate FPV drone strikes on first responders and medics arriving to help after attacks – all of this is typical for every city or community within reach of Russian drones. The Russian army simply kills everything that is alive,” Zelenskyy warned.
The Ukrainian president called on the United States, Europe, and the world to impose secondary sanctions on Russian energy trade and Moscow’s banking sector. “We count on strong decisions from the United States, Europe, and the world regarding secondary sanctions on Russian energy trade and Moscow’s banking sector. Ukraine looks forward to the implementation of every agreement on strengthening defense that has been reached with its partners. Every day of delay results in the loss of our people,” Zelenskyy stressed.
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has seen a series of intense strikes and counter-strikes. Over the weekend, a Ukrainian drone attack sparked a massive fire at a Russian oil depot near the Black Sea resort of Sochi. This incident occurred amid one of the deadliest weeks for Ukraine in recent months. Talks between Ukraine and Russia have also been underway, with both sides preparing for a potential prisoner exchange involving 1,200 Ukrainian troops.
The deployment of nuclear submarines has heightened tensions between the US and Russia. Former Russian President Medvedev had previously threatened to supply nuclear warheads to Iran following US airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. US President Donald Trump criticized Medvedev’s comments, saying, “The ‘N word’ should not be treated so casually”. Trump also praised the precision of US military capabilities, highlighting the successful launch of 30 Tomahawk missiles that hit their targets perfectly.