Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council, has spoken positively about Donald Trump, describing him as an effective leader seeking peace, while questioning Washington’s claim that US nuclear submarines were deployed near Russian territory.
Trump, who has repeatedly said he wants to be remembered as a “peacemaker,” has argued that an agreement to end the war in Ukraine is within reach. A new round of US-Russia-Ukraine talks is due to take place this week in Abu Dhabi.
Respect for Trump’s Mandate
Asked whether Trump’s presidency is beneficial or harmful to Russia — and about speculation that Trump may be sympathetic to Moscow — Medvedev said the American people had made their choice and that Russia respects it.
He praised Trump for standing up to entrenched political forces in Washington, saying the US president’s confrontational and sometimes blunt style has proven effective.
“Trump may be emotional, but the idea that his actions are chaotic is not entirely accurate,” Medvedev said in an interview with Reuters, TASS and the WarGonzo military blogger, conducted at his residence outside Moscow and authorised for publication on Sunday.
“Behind what many see as chaos is actually a deliberate and competent approach,” added Medvedev, who served as Russian president from 2008 to 2012.
Peace Efforts and Productive Contacts
Medvedev said Trump’s ambition to be remembered as a peacemaker was genuine and had already led to more constructive engagement between Moscow and Washington.
“He truly wants to go down in history as a peacemaker, and he is seriously trying,” Medvedev said. “That is why contacts with the Americans have become much more productive.”
While Vladimir Putin remains the ultimate decision-maker on Russian policy, Medvedev’s remarks are often viewed by diplomats as reflecting the thinking of hardline factions within Russia’s political elite.
Questions Over Submarine Deployment
Medvedev also addressed Trump’s claim that he ordered two US nuclear submarines to move closer to Russia in August, following what Trump described as “highly provocative” remarks by Medvedev about the risk of war.
“We still haven’t seen them,” Medvedev said, casting doubt on the reported deployment.
He suggested Trump’s business background helps explain his approach to politics, joking that there is “no such thing as a former businessman” — a twist on an old Russian saying about former intelligence officers.
War in Ukraine and Avoiding Escalation
Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Medvedev has frequently used harsh language toward Kyiv and Western governments, while repeatedly warning that the conflict could spiral into a nuclear confrontation.
He said Russia would eventually achieve military victory in Ukraine, but stressed that preventing further conflict was the more important objective.
“I want this to end as soon as possible,” Medvedev said. “But it is just as important to think about what comes next. The point of victory is to prevent new wars. That should be obvious.”