Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the West is already waging a "full-scale war" against Russia and warned that Moscow should be prepared to respond "to the full extent, including with preventive strikes if necessary." In an interview published 17 July by state-run news agency TASS, the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council argued that Western missile systems, satellite intelligence, sanctions and military build-ups amount to direct hostilities against Moscow. Medvedev dismissed Western officials’ suggestions that Russia could attack Europe as “complete nonsense,” but insisted that Russia must be ready to act pre-emptively if Western involvement in Ukraine deepens. He charged that the United States and its allies have long sought to weaken Russia and said current events show “an attempt to destroy” the country. The comments add to Medvedev’s record of hawkish rhetoric and come as U.S. President Donald Trump has approved new weapons deliveries to Kyiv and threatened 100 % tariffs on importers of Russian goods. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Medvedev was expressing his personal view but called his concerns about a confrontational climate in Europe justified.