Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev issued a stark warning to U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the potential outbreak of World War III amid escalating rhetoric between the two nuclear powers.

In a post on the social media platform X, Medvedev referred to Trump’s comments about Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating, "I only know of one REALLY BAD thing — WWIII." He expressed a hope that Trump understands the implications of such a scenario.

Medvedev's remarks came in response to Trump’s previous commentary on Truth Social, where he described Putin as "playing with fire" following recent lethal Russian airstrikes on Ukraine.

Officials in the U.S. have been actively seeking a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, but have encountered limited success with negotiations.

The war has resulted in significant casualties, with hundreds of thousands of troops from both Ukraine and Russia reportedly killed or injured since the onset of hostilities.

Republican lawmakers have urged Trump to impose additional sanctions against Russia, suggesting that heightened economic pressure might compel the Kremlin to negotiate more earnestly.

Trump, during a press interaction, indicated he is contemplating the introduction of new sanctions.

He stated, "Absolutely.

He’s killing a lot of people.

I don’t know what’s wrong with him...

He’s killing a lot of people, and I’m not happy with that.” His recent criticism of Putin marks a noticeable shift, especially as peace talks remain stalled.

Trump noted, "Missiles and drones are being shot into cities in Ukraine, for no reason whatsoever,” and reiterated his belief that Putin desires to take over all of Ukraine, which could lead to detrimental consequences for Russia.

In the backdrop of these developments, Russia is reportedly considering presenting a peace memorandum soon, with discussions facilitated by U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Keith Kellogg suggesting Geneva as a prospective venue for continued negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed Trump's suggestion for talks to occur at the Vatican, a site of a prior meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Within the U.S. political landscape, tensions have also surfaced regarding the American response to the conflict.

House GOP members, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, have suggested withdrawing U.S. involvement in the war.

Greene emphasized a desire for peaceful resolutions rather than further military entanglements, remarking, "I along with most Americans want nothing to do with either of these countries while they are at war with one another."

Conversely, Senator Lindsey Graham has indicated support for advancing legislation aimed at imposing strict sanctions on Russia, highlighting a bipartisan effort with significant co-sponsorship for the proposed bill.

The divergence in opinion among U.S. lawmakers reflects the ongoing contentious debate over the country’s role in the conflict.