Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus, "RIA Novosti" reports.
According to Putin, Moscow and Minsk have reached an agreement on this. Russia has already helped Belarus re-equip aircraft. In addition, the "Iskander" missile complex was handed over to Minsk. Putin emphasizes that the weapons will be deployed without violating relevant international obligations.
"We will start training crews from April 3. On July 1, we will complete the construction of a special warehouse for storing tactical nuclear weapons in the territory of Belarus," - he said.
The Russian president said that such a step was caused by Great Britain's statement about the supply of ammunition with enriched uranium to Ukraine. He said that Belarus has been asking Russia to deploy nuclear weapons on its territory for a long time and that Moscow is doing what the United States has been doing for decades.
"The United States has allies in certain countries, their nuclear weapons carriers and crews are trained. We will do the same," said Putin.
He said that the uranium-enriched munitions that the West wants to give to Kyiv are not weapons of mass destruction, but they create radioactive dust and are therefore considered extremely dangerous. Putin noted that their use pollutes cultivated fields, which poses a threat to local residents and the environment.
How did the USA and Ukraine react to Russia's deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus?
The United States noted that it does not see any reason to change the readiness of American nuclear forces after the announcement of the Russian government.
"We saw the news about Russia deploying nuclear weapons in Belarus. We have not seen any reason to change the readiness of our nuclear forces or any signs that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons," the Pentagon said.
Mykhailo Podoliak, the adviser to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said that Europe should strengthen sanctions against Russia in response to the decision to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. In particular, he called for restrictions on Rosatom.
The German Foreign Ministry called Russia's statement about plans to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus "another attempt at nuclear intimidation." Also, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that Putin's example of deploying nuclear weapons in NATO countries is "confusing and unfounded."
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