Russia: The Russian President Mr. Vladimir Putin has announced that Moscow has made a deal with neighbouring Belarus to station tactical nuclear weapons on its territory.

The Russian President’s announcement comes as tensions grow with the West over the Ukraine war and speculations about possible nuclear strikes.

Mr. Putin remarked that the deal with Belarus would not violate nuclear nonproliferation agreements, adding that the United States had stationed nuclear weapons on the territory of its European allies for decades.

“We agreed that we would do the same without violating our obligations, and I emphasise, without violating our international obligations on the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons,” the President commented.

According to the statement, Belarusian President Mr. Alexander Lukashenko has long raised the issue of stationing tactical nuclear weapons in his country, which borders NATO member Poland.

Mr. Putin further stated that Russia will have completed the construction of a storage facility for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus by July 1.

The Russian President has repeatedly made nuclear threats or escalated nuclear rhetoric after the full invasion of Ukraine. However, this is the first time Russia has announced a plan to station nuclear weapons in another country.

The US Department of Defense commented that there were no indications that Russia was preparing to use nuclear weapons after Moscow’s announcement.

“We have seen reports of Russia’s announcement and will continue to monitor this situation. We have not seen any reason to adjust our own strategic nuclear posture, nor are there any indications Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon. We remain committed to the collective defence of the NATO alliance,” the Department remarked in a statement.

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