Trump Confirms U.S. Nuclear Submarine Presence Near Russia Amid Heightened Tensions

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ALLENTOWN, Pa. — President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday that two U.S. nuclear submarines are now positioned in strategic waters near Russia, a move he said was made in direct response to increasingly aggressive rhetoric from Russian leadership. The announcement comes just days ahead of U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff’s scheduled diplomatic mission to Moscow.

Speaking to reporters before boarding Air Force One in Pennsylvania, Trump reaffirmed a prior statement posted to his TRUTH Social platform on Friday, noting that the submarines had already been deployed. “They are in the region, yeah, where they have to be,” Trump said at Lehigh Valley International Airport.

The decision follows pointed remarks by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who accused Trump of issuing a de facto ultimatum by calling for a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire within 10 to 12 days—down from an initial 50-day window. Medvedev warned that such demands could provoke a broader conflict between Russia and the United States. In response, Trump issued a sharp warning, urging the Russian official to “watch his words” and labeling the comments as “dangerous territory.”

Trump also addressed questions about possible sanctions on Russia, acknowledging that sanctions have historically been difficult to enforce. “They’re wily characters, and they’re pretty good at avoiding sanctions,” he said. When asked what could prevent further penalties, Trump replied, “Yeah, get a deal where people stop getting killed.”

Calling the ongoing conflict “a really horrible war,” Trump emphasized the human cost on both sides. “A tremendous number of Russian soldiers have been killed. And likewise Ukraine, a lower number, but still thousands and thousands of people,” he said. “This should be the easiest [war] to stop, and it’s not.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded Monday by attempting to downplay the submarine deployment, telling Russian reporters that American submarines are “constantly on combat duty” and that Moscow does not view the situation as an escalation. He reiterated Russia’s stated commitment to nuclear non-proliferation and called for restraint in nuclear-related statements.

Meanwhile, tensions continue to build in the Asia-Pacific region, where China and Russia are holding joint naval exercises in the Sea of Japan. The three-day drills, involving missile destroyers and submarine rescue operations, are being conducted near Vladivostok and come as part of the annual Joint Sea 2025 initiative. Both nations claim the exercises are not directed at any third party, despite growing international scrutiny.

The U.S. Air Force is currently conducting its own large-scale readiness exercise, Resolute Force Pacific, in coordination with Japan and other regional allies. Chinese officials have criticized the American drills as destabilizing and provocative.

As Russia and China deepen military and economic ties, Washington continues to navigate escalating geopolitical flashpoints on multiple fronts, seeking both deterrence and diplomacy in a shifting global landscape.