Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has threatened the West with “preemptive strikes” if it continues to escalate its support for Ukraine, a belligerent response to President Trump’s new hardline policy.

Russia's nuclear rules say it can use atomic weapons if the country — or one of its allies — is attacked, especially if the attacker is a non-nuclear nation backed by a nuclear power. That clause could be seen as applying to Ukraine,

The Kremlin said U.S. President Donald Trump signaled to Ukraine that it should continue the war after he said he would send more weapons to Kyiv and threatened Russia with secondary sanctions unless it makes peace.