President Donald Trump and former Russian leader Medvedev engage in a social media tirade, firing scathing insults at each other over the latter’s 50-day ultimatum for Moscow to agree to a ceasefire in its war with Ukraine or risk skyrocketing tariffs. 

While meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday, Mr Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Russia in “about 10 to 12 days”. 

Mr Medvedev called Mr Trump’s bluff and said that he was only “playing the ultimatum game.” He said that Russia was not Israel or Iran and cannot take orders from another nation. 

“Trump’s playing the ultimatum game with Russia: 50 days or 10… He should remember 2 things: 1. Russia isn’t Israel or even Iran. 2. Each new ultimatum is a threat and a step towards war,” Mr Medvedev, deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, wrote on X. “Not between Russia and Ukraine, but with his own country.”

India, one of Russia’s largest oil buyers, was also threatened with an additional 25 per cent tariff over its dealings with Moscow, particularly after India’s recent purchase of military gear and gas from Vladimir Putin’s administration. 

“I don’t care what India does with Russia,” Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social. “They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India, their tariffs are too high, among the highest in the world.”

“Likewise, Russia and the USA do almost no business together. Let’s keep it that way and tell Medvedev, the failed former President of Russia, who thinks he’s still President, to watch his words. He’s entering very dangerous territory!” Mr Trump added.

Mr Medvedev cautioned Mr Trump  and urged him not to “go down the Sleepy Joe road!”, adopting the same nickname Mr Trump used to deride his predecessor, former Joe Biden.

Mr Medvedev also had scathing shots for U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, whom he called “gramps” over the lawmaker’s statement, telling him, “Get to the peace table.”

The former Russian leader said Moscow would only cease fire in Ukraine after its military troops achieve their objectives and told Mr Graham to focus on “America first”.

“It’s not for you or Trump to dictate when to ‘get at the peace table’. Negotiations will end when all the objectives of our military operation have been achieved. Work on America first, gramps!” said Mr Medvedev.

Since assuming office, Mr Trump has unsuccessfully sought a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine.