US scolds Russia for stoking WWIII fears after Trump’s ‘playing with fire’ remark
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US Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia Keith Kellogg at a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland, on February 18, 2025.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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MOSCOW - US President Donald Trump’s envoy, Mr Keith Kellogg, on May 28 scolded a top Russian official for stoking fears of World War III after Mr Trump warned President Vladimir Putin was “playing with fire” over Ukraine.
As Russian forces advanced in Ukraine, Mr Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said that Mr Putin was playing with fire and cautioned that “REALLY BAD” things would have happened already to Russia if it were not for Mr Trump himself.
“What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realise is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened in Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire,” Mr Trump said in a Truth Social post on May 27.
Top Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev, a former president, dismissed Mr Trump’s criticism.
“Regarding Trump’s words about Putin ‘playing with fire’ and ‘really bad things’ happening to Russia. I only know of one REALLY BAD thing – WWIII. I hope Trump understands this!” Mr Medvedev wrote in English on social media platform X.
US envoy Mr Kellogg quoted Mr Medvedev’s post and said it reckless.
“Stoking fears of WWIII is an unfortunate, reckless comment... and unfitting of a world power,” Mr Kellogg said on X.
“President Trump @POTUS is working to stop this war and end the killing. We await receipt of RU Memorandum (Term Sheet) that you promised a week ago. Cease fire now.” REUTERS
