DEPLOYMENT OF TACTICAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS IN BELARUS NOT TIME-LIMITED: RUSSIA

Mon 19 June 2023:

Russia’s deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus is not time-limited, state news agency TASS quoted a senior Russian diplomat on Monday as saying.

Russia announced earlier in June about placing tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, a close ally which borders Ukraine.

“As for the possible time frame for the presence of Russian tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus, the Russian-Belarusian agreements do not imply any restrictions in this regard,” TASS quoted Alexei Polishchuk, director of the Russian foreign ministry’s department of former Soviet states, as saying.

Polishchuk said the weapons could hypothetically be removed from Belarus if the United States and NATO “refrained from undermining the security and sovereignty of Russia and Belarus”.

RUSSIA HAS SENT NUCLEAR ARMS TO ITS ALLY BELARUS, PUTIN CONFIRMS

Last week Russian President Putin had confirmed that Russia has sent nuclear arms to its ally Belarus which borders Ukraine.

“The first nuclear warheads were delivered to the territory of Belarus … This is the first part,” Putin told an annual economic forum, where AFP and media of other countries Russia deems “unfriendly” were not accredited.

The Russian leader had announced the plans to send tactical nuclear weapons – less powerful than strategic ones – in March.

“By the end of summer, the end of the year, we will complete the process,” of transferring tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, Putin said.

White House denounces nuclear rhetoric from Putin