Putin Ally Warns Nuclear War With NATO Almost Began Under Joe Biden

Former Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, said on Sunday that a nuclear war with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) almost began under President Joe Biden.

Newsweek has reached out to the White House and Russia’s Foreign Ministry via email for comment on Sunday morning.

Why It Matters

Tensions remain high between NATO and Russia amid the ongoing Russian-Ukraine war as NATO leaders have increasingly warned that direct conflict with Moscow is a realistic danger. This comes after Putin and senior Russian officials have repeatedly threatened nuclear escalation against Kyiv and its Western partners since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The tensions come as Russia and the United States have control over roughly 90 percent of the world’s nuclear weapons. This includes strategic and non-strategic, or tactical, nuclear weapons.

President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on Monday, has criticized the billions of dollars the Biden administration has spent in supporting Ukraine, has said that if he was at the negotiating table with Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the war between the two nations would end “within 24 hours,” leading to concerns that he would press Zelensky to surrender the territory Russia currently occupies.

What To Know

In a Sunday Telegram post, Medvedev, deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council and a former Russian president, took aim at Biden as he criticized the president’s approach to the conflict and warned that a war with NATO almost began under Biden.

“What did catch my attention was his unhealthy interest in Ukraine, even though he explained it to me by acting on [former President Barack] Obama’s instructions. Over time, those instructions turned into an obsession – the transformation facilitated by political mistakes, plain corruption, and poor judgement stemming from historical ignorance and failure to appreciate the nature of ‘Ukraineness.’ At some point, the old man went off the rails and essentially unleashed a war between the collective West and Russia, which almost led to a nuclear exchange with NATO,” Medvedev wrote.

He added: “He’s been clearly out of it lately. While it’s true that this war benefits the US economically, political costs and the real danger of a fatal conflict are far more important. It is something the old dude was not prepared for. This is a case where the head of a major world power lost control of the situation completely, resulting in a crushing electoral defeat for the Democrats.”

Medvedev’s remarks come after the U.S. is set to provide Ukraine an additional $500 million in weapons, drawing from existing U.S. stockpiles.

The military aid, authorized under presidential drawdown authority, allows for expedited transfer of munitions and equipment from U.S. stockpiles to Ukraine. A senior defense official who earlier this month briefed reporters traveling with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the goal was to get those munitions into Ukraine before the end of the month, ensuring that Ukraine remains in a strong position as the administration transitions.

Just days earlier, the Biden administration announced a $1.25 billion aid package, part of a broader effort to maximize Ukraine’s military support during the final stretch of Biden’s term. Officials estimate that 80 to 90 percent of promised equipment has already been delivered, signaling the administration’s urgency to solidify its legacy of support for Ukraine.

This is not the first time Medvedev has warned of a nuclear response during the war. He previously made headlines for regular social media rants that have ranged from calls for nuclear strikes on NATO members to suggestions that Moscow has no choice but to eliminate Zelensky.

What People Are Saying

President Joe Biden said in a statement earlier this month: “As I committed earlier this year, the Department of Defense has now allocated all remaining USAI funds appropriated by Congress in the supplemental that I signed in April, and my Administration is fully utilizing the funding appropriated by Congress to support the drawdown of U.S. equipment for Ukraine.”

Trump-Vance transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told Newsweek earlier this month: “President Trump has repeatedly stated that a top priority in his second term will be to quickly negotiate a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine war. Also, President Trump believes European nations should meet their NATO defense spending obligations and step up their share of the burden for this conflict, as the U.S. has paid significantly more, which is not fair to our taxpayers. He will do what is necessary to restore peace and rebuild American strength and deterrence on the world stage.”

Russia’s defense minister Andrei Belousov warned in December of a direct conflict between Moscow and NATO within the next decade: “[Preparing for war] has been shown by the decisions made at NATO summit held in July of this year.” He added that Moscow “must be prepared for any development, including a possible military conflict with NATO in Europe in the next decade.”

When asked about Belousov’s comments, the Pentagon told Newsweek in a statement in December that “the United States condemns irresponsible, escalatory rhetoric.”

U.S. Department of Defense spokesperson Javan Rasnake told Newsweek in December that “the United States and NATO do not seek a military conflict with Russia.”

What Happens Next

While it is unclear what Trump will do once in office regarding sending aid to Ukraine, Biden continues to make a last-minute push to ship weapons to Ukraine amid concerns that the incoming administration may halt military hardware deliveries to the country.