Medvedev-US/Russia Relations Worse Now Than Cuban Missile Crisis

Deputy chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev speaking at the World Youth Festival in the Black Sea town of Sirius. Makes a number of high-profile and inflammatory comments. Says that the "situation between the US and Russia now is worse than the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis." This is a significant claim given that the world was seen as hours, if not minutes, from US-Soviet nuclear warfare at that time. Medvedev also claims that "US special forces and advisers are waging war against Russia."

• Says that the concept "Ukraine is not Russia" must disappear forever, claiming "Ukraine is, of course, Russia." Claims that "territories on both banks of the Dniepr are part of the Russian historical strategic borders, all attempts to cut them off alive are doomed." Says that it is not possible to resurrect the USSR, but that 'historical parts' of Russia should 'return home'.
• Medvedev: "If Ukraine doesn't fall into the stupid trap set by the US to fight Russia, everything could be different."
• In recent months Medvedev, previously president from 2008-12, has utilised increasingly vociferous and belligerent rhetoric when discussing Ukraine and the West. Medvedev's rhetoric usually more hyperbolic than that of other senior gov't officials, so it could be the case that the comments are more easily dismissed. However, it is unlikely that they will have been made without Kremlin approval.
• Given President Vladimir Putin's speech to the Federal Assembly last week mentioning nuclear weapons, regional and global security tensions are likely to remain elevated.