Putin may deploy extra highly effective nuclear weapons in Belarus – President Lukashenko boasts

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has acknowledged that Russia may place highly effective strategic nuclear weapons in Belarus, on prime of the tactical nuclear warheads Moscow is already planning to deploy there.

Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced final week that Moscow would full the development of a storage facility for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus by the start of July

Talking throughout a nationwide tackle on Friday, March 31, Lukashenko welcomed Russia\’s transfer, asserting he had intensified talks with Putin about deploying each tactical and strategic nuclear weapons within the nation.

Whereas tactical warheads are designed to be used in a restricted battlefield, for instance to destroy a command submit or a column of tanks, strategic nuclear warheads are designed to destroy whole cities and as at press time Russia has not introduced any plans to ship strategic nuclear weapons to Belarus.

Lukashenko, who has been asking Putin for nuclear weapons for some time, claimed Belarus wanted the weapons as a result of Ukraine’s Western allies have been planning a coup in opposition to him. He baselessly accused Western international locations of “making ready to invade” Belarus from Poland and “destroy” it.

“If vital, Putin and I\’ll determine and introduce strategic nuclear weapons right here. And so they should perceive this … We are going to cease at nothing, defending our international locations, our states and their peoples,” the Belarusian chief was quoted as saying by state media BELGA.

Putin and Lukashenko are scheduled to satisfy subsequent week.

Belarus is certainly one of Russia’s few allies in its conflict on Ukraine. Whereas the nation’s army isn’t straight concerned within the preventing, Belarus helped Russia launch its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, permitting the Kremlin’s troops to enter the nation from its territory.

Putin mentioned final week he wouldn\’t switch management of the tactical nuclear weapons to Lukashenko, likening the transfer to Washington’s follow of stationing nuclear weapons in Europe to maintain host international locations, like Germany, from breaking their commitments as non-nuclear powers.

“Our transformed planes may also carry a nuclear warhead. You heard from the president of Russia about joint plans to create the suitable infrastructure on the territory of Belarus. I simply wish to make clear: Your complete infrastructure has been created and is prepared,” Lukashenko mentioned.

Lukashenko mentioned that Minsk and Moscow would make “each effort and use the means to make sure their sovereignty and independence.” He particularly accused Poland and its “zealous” Western neighbors of increase the “formation of sure regiments, banners, legions” for a “subsequent coup in Belarus.”

Talking to the nation on state TV, Lukashenko additionally known as for the freezing of “hostilities” in Ukraine.

“It\’s essential to cease hostilities and declare a truce that prohibits each side from transferring teams of troops and from transferring weapons, ammunition, manpower, and gear. All stopped, frozen,” Lukashenko mentioned.