Moscow [Russia], March 26 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned that Russia plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. This marks Moscow’s newest try to make use of the specter of a nuclear struggle to ramp up tensions with the US and NATO over the invasion of Ukraine, Financial Times reported.

Putin mentioned work can be accomplished on constructing storage models for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus on July 1, a transfer he likened to US nuclear deployments in Europe.

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The Russian chief mentioned Moscow has already transferred an Iskander short-range missile system – which could be fitted with nuclear or standard warheads – to Belarus.

Though Putin mentioned Russia wouldn’t switch management of the tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus or violate its nuclear non-proliferation obligations, the choice is likely one of the Kremlin’s most important steps with its arsenal because it invaded Ukraine greater than a yr in the past, in accordance with Financial Times.

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The Russian President mentioned the deployment was in response to a longstanding request from Belarus’s chief Alexander Lukashenko who has allowed Russia to make use of the nation as a launch pad for assaults on Ukraine, thereby transferring his nation deeper into the Kremlin’s embrace.

“There is nothing unusual here: first of all, the US has been doing this for decades,” Putin mentioned. “They placed their tactical nuclear weapons in six different allied Nato countries in Europe. [ . . . ] we have agreed to do the same thing, without, I stress, violating our international non-proliferation obligations,” Putin mentioned.

“They have [tactical nuclear weapons] in certain countries, prepare the delivery systems, and train the crews. We’re planning to do the same thing,” he added, as quoted by Financial Times.

Putin accused the ‘West’ of fueling the Ukraine disaster and mentioned that the ‘West’ is playing on the fates of whole states and peoples, in accordance with the Kremlin’s assertion.

Putin, in an article for the Chinese Communist Party’s flagship newspaper, People’s Daily, said that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is striving for the worldwide attain of actions and in search of to penetrate the Asia-Pacific.

“The crisis in Ukraine, which was provoked and is being diligently fuelled by the West, is the most striking, yet not the only, manifestation of its desire to retain its international dominance and preserve the unipolar world order. It is crystal clear that NATO is striving for a global reach of activities and seeking to penetrate the Asia-Pacific,” Putin mentioned.

“It is obvious that there are forces persistently working to split the common Eurasian space into a network of ‘exclusive clubs’ and military blocs that would serve to contain our countries’ development and harm their interests. This won’t work,” he added.

The authorities in Belarus, which is located west of Russia on Ukraine’s lengthy northern border, is amongst Moscow’s closest allies.

Belarus has had no nuclear weapons on its territory for the reason that early Nineties. Shortly after gaining independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union, it agreed to switch all Soviet-era weapons of mass destruction stationed there to Russia.

Belarus helped Russia launch its preliminary invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, permitting the Kremlin’s troops to enter the nation from the north. There have been fears all through the battle that Belarus will once more be used as a launching floor for an offensive, or that Minsk’s personal troops will be part of the battle, CNN reported. (ANI)

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