Russia’s former President Dmitry Medvedev has issued a sobering warning to Donald Trump after the US leader accused Vladimir Putin of “playing with fire”. US President Mr Trump, writing on his Truth Social platform, said: “What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!”

The remark drew a sharp response from Mr Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council and one of Mr Putin’s most outspoken allies. Posting on X, formerly Twitter, he said: “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!”

While the statement fell short of an outright threat, it will likely be interpreted as a reminder of Russia’s nuclear capabilities and its willingness to invoke them rhetorically as tensions with the West continue to rise.

Mr Medvedev has become known for his increasingly hardline and provocative commentary since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

He frequently uses social media to attack Western leaders and suggest that global conflict is a real possibility if Moscow's demands are ignored.

Mr Trump has repeatedly claimed that the war in Ukraine would never have started if he had remained in office.

He has also said he could bring the conflict to a swift end if he returned to the White House.

His comments this week mark one of the few times he has issued a direct warning to Mr Putin, whose relationship with the former US president has long been the subject of scrutiny both in Washington and abroad.

Mr Trump is no stranger to bombastic rhetoric. In 2017, during his first term as President, he told reporters: "North Korea best not make any more threats to the US. They will be met with fire and fury like the world has never seen."

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