Medvedev: U.S. sanctions require 'military deterrence'

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Saturday that Russia's response to new U.S. sanctions should include "military deterrence," according to AFP.

Medvedev, a prominent ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin and one of Moscow's most outspoken hardliners against the West, provided no further details about the nature or method of the response.

U.S. President Donald Trump signed a law on Friday imposing new sanctions aimed at increasing pressure on Russia over its war in Ukraine, following congressional approval that had been delayed for months.

The legislation, named after the late American senator Lindsey Graham, targets Russia's energy and defense sectors, as well as individuals including President Vladimir Putin and other senior officials.

Medvedev, who currently serves as Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, wrote on Telegram: "Even on the other side of the ocean, they only understand the language of direct military deterrence, and this is the language we should use in response to hostile atrocities like the late senator Graham's terrorism bill," according to his description.

Medvedev served as Russia's president from 2008 to 2012, a position that allowed Putin, then serving as prime minister, to bypass term limits on consecutive presidential terms.

The 61-year-old Medvedev regularly posts sharp statements against Ukraine and the West on social media.

Critics argue these statements are an attempt to maintain his political relevance, while others see them as reflecting views within Russia's top leadership circles.

Last year, Trump ordered the deployment of two nuclear-powered submarines after Medvedev posted on Telegram about Russia's automated nuclear command system known as "Dead Hand," developed by the Soviet Union during the Cold War.