Archive · 19 Sep 2026
Medvedev Threatens Military Deterrence After Trump Signs Russia Sanctions
The United States approved new penalties against Russia because of its war in Ukraine.
President Donald Trump signed the sanctions bill after Congress approved it.
The measures target Russia’s energy and defense sectors and some senior officials.
Dmitry Medvedev, a senior Russian official, said Russia should answer with “military deterrence.”
He did not explain exactly what that meant.
Medvedev is a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russia has called Ukraine and its supporters terrorists, but Ukraine rejects those accusations.
Medvedev has made other nuclear-related comments that previously led Trump to move two nuclear submarines.
Dmitry Medvedev said Russia should respond to new US sanctions with “military deterrence.”
Donald Trump signed legislation targeting Russia’s energy and defense sectors, Vladimir Putin, and other senior officials.
The sanctions bill received congressional approval after months of delay and was named after Lindsey Graham.
Medvedev, Russia’s former president and current Security Council deputy chair, did not explain what military deterrence would involve.
His remarks followed earlier nuclear-related comments that prompted Trump to move two nuclear submarines last year.
- Who
- Dmitry Medvedev, Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, the United States, and Russia are central figures and parties.
- What
- The United States enacted new sanctions against Russia, and Medvedev called for a response involving “military deterrence.”
- When
- Trump signed the sanctions legislation on Friday; Medvedev made his remarks on Saturday.
- Where
- The sanctions were imposed by the United States against Russia; Medvedev made his statement on Telegram.
- Why
- The legislation is intended to pressure Russia over its war in Ukraine.
United States and Ukraine’s Position
Russia’s Position
Purpose of the sanctions
United States and Ukraine’s Position
The United States says the legislation is designed to pressure Russia over its war in Ukraine.
Russia’s Position
Medvedev described the sanctions law as a Russophobic act and condemned it.
How Russia should respond
United States and Ukraine’s Position
The sanctions legislation seeks economic and political pressure rather than a military response.
Russia’s Position
Medvedev said Russia should answer with “military deterrence,” without specifying what action he meant.
Characterization of the conflict
United States and Ukraine’s Position
Ukraine rejects Russian officials’ claims that Ukraine and its supporters are terrorists, calling them baseless wartime propaganda.
Russia’s Position
Russian officials, including Vladimir Putin, have described Ukraine and its supporters as terrorists.
- Sanctions target
- Russia’s energy and defense sectors, Vladimir Putin, and other senior officials.
- US action
- Donald Trump signed the sanctions bill on Friday after congressional approval.
- Russian response
- Dmitry Medvedev said Russia should respond with “military deterrence.”
- Medvedev’s position
- He is deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council and a senior ally of Vladimir Putin.
- Bill’s namesake
- The legislation was named after the late US Senator Lindsey Graham.
- Earlier nuclear-related incident
- Last year, Trump ordered two nuclear submarines to be moved after a Medvedev Telegram post.