Ranting former US President Donald Trump has blasted "incompetent people" in the US government and claimed Russian nuclear escalation is terrifyingly being discussed due to a situation "caused by us".
Trump's incensed rant comes after Russia announced it is stationing tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus in response to the West's increasing military support for Ukraine.
In an angry post on Truth Social, Trump claimed he predicted the developments and told his followers to "pray".
It comes as Trump, who is running for the Presidency again in 2024, could be indicted as soon as today by a Manhattan grand jury investigating a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.
His post on nuclear weapons read (sic): "Here we go!!! Just as I predicted, now we’re playing with the 'BIG STUFF.' The 'N' WORD is now being used, front and center.
"This situation was caused by us - It’s what happens when you have incompetent people running your government. All I can say to you right now is, PRAY!"
Putin announced the nuclear plan in a TV interview that aired Saturday, saying it was triggered by a UK decision this past week to provide Ukraine with armour-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium.
Putin argued that by deploying its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, Russia was following the lead of the United States. He noted that Washington has nuclear weapons based in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey.
“We are doing what they have been doing for decades, stationing them in certain allied countries, preparing the launch platforms and training their crews,” he said.
In response, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry condemned the move in a statement Sunday and demanded an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council.
“Ukraine expects effective action to counter the Kremlin's nuclear blackmail by the UK, China, the US and France,” the statement read, saying these countries “have a special responsibility” regarding nuclear aggression.
“The world must be united against someone who endangers the future of human civilization,” the statement said.
Trump, a twice-impeached former president, is carrying a new level of turmoil into the 2024 presidential contest as he could become the first president in US history to be indicted.
New York prosecutors are wrapping up their probe into whether Trump engaged in an illegal hush money scheme involving a porn actress.
Trump, who has denied any sexual encounter with Stormy Daniels, raised the spectre on his social media site of “years of hatred, chaos and turmoil” if charges are brought.
His rant over Russia's nuclear threat follows Florida governor Ron DeSantis' discourse on the matter last week.
DeSantis, who is seen as a top rival to Trump for the 2024 GOP nomination, said that defending Ukraine wasn’t a national security priority for the US, and downplayed the Russian invasion.
The US said it would “monitor the implications” of Putin's announcement to station nuclear weapons in Belarus.
“We have not seen any reason to adjust our own strategic nuclear posture nor any indications Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon,” National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said.
"We remain committed to the collective defence of the NATO alliance.”
Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine had Soviet nuclear weapons stationed on their territory but handed them over to Russia after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union.
