During the week of November 19-26, 2024, using his favorite platform, Telegram, as well as making an appearance on Al Arabia TV, former President of Russia and current deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia, Dmitri Medvedev, addressed the right of Russia to respond with nuclear weapons to a missile attack on Russia by Kyiv’s use of NATO-supplied missiles armed with conventional warheads. In Medvedev’s interview with Al-Arabia TV, he spoke not only to this topic, but as well to the issue of sanctions on Russia, specifically regarding the export of energy resources to EU countries, and his expectations for Trump’s policy toward Russia. According to the Baku TV commentator, Medvedev stressed that “the Russian authorities are not crazy and do not want the use of nuclear weapons. The use of nuclear weapons is a last resort” [cf. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/sanctions-against-russia/ for a detailed history of sanctions on Russia]. Baku TV covered the interview by presenting a Russian-language voice-over of portions of the interview.

Medvedev’s November 19, 2024 Telegram post follows [translated from Russian by LOC]:

About the unconfirmed decision regarding strikes “deep into Russia” and the decision approved by the President of Russia regarding Russia’s nuclear policy. [Translator comment: This sentence was italicized by Medvedev. I have emboldened his to distinguish from my italics.]

After the dust, raised by Western newspapers, has hardly settled, it is obvious that, in spite of the clear propagandistic intention of the publications, what is transpiring could have quite serious consequences.

1. It is not so important, who made the decision, and when, about using long-range tactical ballistic and cruise missiles of NATO countries “deep into the territory of Russia.” All the more, that there already were attempts of their use on our country.

2. It is not so important, how many of them the enemy has today. As well as that their use, in our enemies’ opinion, must have not only a military, but also an informational effect.

3. It is not so important that these missiles are unable to contribute substantially to the enemy’s military actions.

4. It is not so important that the Trump team will have to come to terms with the decisions the current U.S. administration is making to consciously escalate the conflict.

5. One thing is important: what the Head of the Russian state spoke about on September 12 – the result being that a new version of the Fundamentals of State Policy in the Area of Nuclear Deterrence has been approved today. The alliance’s [i.e., NATO’s] use of missiles in a similar manner now can qualify as an attack of the countries of the bloc on Russia [Medvedev’s italics]. In this case, it is right to carry out a reciprocal strike with a weapon of mass destruction on Kiev [The Russian leadership refuses to refer to the capital of Ukraine as ‘Kyiv,’ continuing to use the name it was known by before the country became an autonomous state] and the main facilities of NATO, no matter where they are located. And this is already WWIII.

Perhaps old man Biden really did decide to depart life gracefully, taking with him a significant portion of humanity…

On November 22, 2024, Medvedev was interviewed by Saudi Arabia’s Al Arabia TV. In Azerbaijan, Baku TV, on its YouTube channel, carried a Russian-language condensed commentary of the interview [translated by LOC]:

The cessation of deliveries of Russian natural gas to Europe has led to people freezing there and production there is stopping. Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Dmitri Medvedev, indicated that this was the case in an interview with Al Arabia TV. He stressed that hardly will Donald Trump, after taking over as U.S. President, instantly cancel all the sanctions against Russia since they are advantageous to Washington. The Russian Security Council deputy chairman explained that Trump wants to limit deliveries of Russian gas to Europe and sell American energy resources there. Medvedev also noted that Trump wants to achieve a settlement to the Ukrainian conflict, but Russia is relying only on itself, confident of victory. Speaking about the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Medvedev stressed that the U.S. and other members of NATO have been included in a full-fledged war against Russia after the use of their missiles for strikes on the Kursk and Bryansk regions. By the way, Medvedev also noted that the Russian authorities are not crazy and do not want the use of nuclear weapons. The use of nuclear weapons is a last resort, he said.

Medvedev was back on Telegram on Sunday, November 24, 2024, to post what he called his SUNDAY INTERNATIONAL OVERVIEW concerning five events that have already happened [translated from Russian by LOC]:

1. Of course, first is using the Oreshnik medium range hypersonic ballistic missile with multiple non-nuclear warheads. Europe is guessing, what kind of damage the system can inflict, if the warheads were nuclear, is it possible all the same to knock down these missiles as quickly [as] the missiles reach the capitals of the Old World. The answer: the damage is unacceptable and to knock [them] down by current means is impossible and it’s about minutes. Bomb shelters will not help; therefore, the only hope is that a good Russia will warn of launches ahead of time. Therefore, it’s better to cease supporting the war.

2. The ‘yokel’ [i.e., Ukrainian] propagandists made public their curious, ambitious BMD [Ballistic Missile Defense] in relation to the medium range ballistic hypersonic missile [BHMMR] Oreshnik: “No such ‘Oreshnik’ exists.” True, need to be simpler! And for protection it’s enough to simply close your eyes. For those who close their eyes, the problem disappears automatically.

3. The Western media in turn propose that the U.S. furnish former Ukraine [Medvedev purposely refers to Ukraine as a thing of the past – a fait accompli – in his eyes.] with nuclear weapons. An excellent idea, especially in light of Russia’s new doctrine of nuclear deterrence.

4. [Referring to Zelensky] The green Nazi t-shirt announced in her parliament a 10-point “stability plan.” In point of fact, she needs a personal 1-point “stability plan”: less sniffing and to be closer to reality. Indeed the “High Treason of Ukraine” itself is sitting on suitcases in anticipation of the difficult development of events (cf. point 1].

[Translator comment: Medvedev is once again playing with words. As has been mentioned before, ‘zelen’ means ‘green’ in both Russian and Ukrainian. So rather than referring to Zelensky by name, Medvedev demeans the Ukrainian president by referring to him as a green t-shirt – he seems to prefer wearing that style of shirt, although not necessarily always green. ‘Nazi’ is the way I’m translating Medvedev’s term ‘Bandera,’ the name of the Ukrainian nationalist who fought with the Germans against the Russians in WWII. Medvedev again insinuates that Zelensky uses cocaine by accusing him of “sniffing.” ‘Parliament’ in Ukrainian is ‘Verkhovnaya Rada’; by adding a ‘z’ at the beginning of ‘rada,’ i.e., ‘zrada’ ‘council’ becomes ‘treason’; therefore, the translation “High Treason of Ukraine.” It is hard to tell whether Medvedev is referring to the parliament or to Zelensky. I would guess he is referring to the latter.]

5.And for an appetizer. The American senator-Russophobe and simply a rare freak, Graham (included in the register of terrorists and extremists in the RF) [Medvedev’s parenthetical observation], said that Washington must introduce sanctions and destroy the economy of all countries that would help the ICC arrest Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu and ex-head of the Ministry of Defense, Yoav Gallant.

Well, what about it? The U.S. (yes, and Europe) recognize the illegitimate ICC in relation to the leaders of certain countries and are ready to tear to pieces any other states for carrying out the rulings of the ICC in relation to the responsible persons of their satellites.

An honest, open position.

Medvedev’s tone was flippantly menacing in his November 26, 2024 communication via Telegram [translated from Russian by LOC]:

American politicians and journalists are seriously discussing the consequences of transferring nuclear weapons to Kiev. It seems, my sad joke about crazy, senile Biden having decided to depart life gracefully, while having gathered together with him a significant portion of humanity, is turning into a frightening reality. To transfer nuclear weapons to a country which is fighting against one of the largest nuclear states? The very idea is so absurd that it arouses suspicion that “Joe, The Walking Dead,” and all those who are discussing the expediency of such a step, have a paranoid psychosis.

And all the same, it’s necessary to note the nonsense:

1) The very threat of transferring nuclear weapons to the Kiev regime can be seen as preparing [Medvedev’s italics] for a nuclear conflict with Russia;

2) The actual transfer of such weapons can be equated to the completed act [once again, a fait accompli] of an attack on our country in the sense of point 19 of the Fundamentals of State Policy in the Area of Nuclear Deterrence.

The consequences are obvious.