In a recent announcement, President Vladimir Putin confirmed that Russia has successfully transported its first batch of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, a move that was originally disclosed three months ago. This development has the potential to escalate tensions between Russia and the United States, as well as their respective allies, in light of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
During the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum , President Putin stated, “The first nuclear charges have been delivered to Belarus. However, this is just the initial phase. We anticipate completing this operation by the end of summer or by the end of the year.”
President Putin initially revealed in March his intention to deploy tactical nuclear weapons within the territory of Belarus, emphasizing that Russia remains committed to non-proliferation agreements by maintaining control over these weapons. He further asserted that Belarusian troops have undergone training on the “storage and utilization of tactical special munitions.”
In a recent interview, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko suggested that the weapons had already arrived in his country, contrary to President Putin’s previous statement, which indicated that the deliveries would commence in the following month.
When questioned about the potential utilization of nuclear weapons, President Putin clarified that such actions would only be considered if Russian statehood was under threat. However, he emphasized that there is currently no immediate necessity for such measures.
