Trump described it as Dmitrij Medvedev coming with "very provocative statements" when he said that Trump's actions mean "a threat and a step towards war" between the USA and Russia.
The now 59-year-old Medvedev – president between 2008 and 2012 – is a close ally of President Vladimir Putin since the 1990s. Despite hopes that he would stake out a more liberal Russian course, he has been a loyal executor of Putin's line.
During his time in power, Medvedev advocated cooperation with Europe and the USA. He signed, among other things, a nuclear disarmament agreement with the USA and completed Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
"Dangerously irresponsible"
After leaving the presidency to pave the way for Putin's return, Medvedev returned to being prime minister and later deputy head of Russia's Security Council.
Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Medvedev has repeatedly incited against the West and defended Russia's war policy.
He has, among other things, publicly described Westerners as "bastards and degenerates", stated that "Ukraine is of course Russia" and repeatedly raised the possibility of using nuclear weapons against Russia's enemies.
After the USA's attacks on nuclear power plants in Iran in June, Medvedev hinted that other countries could consider delivering nuclear weapons to Iran – a statement that made Trump call him "dangerously irresponsible".
Exposed by Navalnyj
Medvedev's Telegram posts are seen as a reflection of the Kremlin's hard line rather than his own ideology. He himself has said that he and Putin do not have any ideological differences and has called his mentor Russia's "most successful politician".
Despite all the talk of modernization and the fight against corruption, Medvedev was exposed in 2017 in a major investigation by the then opposition leader Aleksej Navalnyj – who later died mysteriously in captivity – where he was accused of having built a luxury empire with state funds.
Today, it is clear that Medvedev's loyalty to Vladimir Putin has deepened in line with an increasingly confrontational tone towards the West.
Fact: Dmitrij Medvedev
TT
Born 14 September 1965 in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Soviet Union.
Grew up as an only child in an academic family – his father was a professor of technology, his mother a linguist and university teacher. Studied law at Leningrad State University, where he graduated in 1987 and later earned a doctorate in civil law.
Began his political career in the early 1990s as an advisor in St. Petersburg's city hall, where he started working closely with Vladimir Putin.
Became quickly a part of the Russian power hub Kremlin's inner circle, was appointed chairman of Gazprom and held several high positions in the presidential administration.
Succeeded Putin as Russia's president 2008–2012. When Putin then became head of state again, Medvedev served as prime minister between 2012 and 2020.
