Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said that he had intensified talks with Russia about deploying
tactical nuclear weapons in his country, alleging there were
plans to invade Belarus from neighbouring Poland.
Speaking at an annual address to lawmakers and government officials on Friday, Lukashenko said Moscow’s plans to station
nuclear arms in Belarus would help “safeguard” the country,
which he said was under threat from the West.
“Take my word for it, I have never deceived you. They are
preparing to invade Belarus, to destroy our country,” he told
the audience.
President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Russia would
station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, its first
deployment of nuclear armaments outside its borders since the
collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Lukashenko went further, saying he and Putin could
decide if necessary to deploy strategic nuclear weapons – more
powerful systems that can destroy whole cities from a range of
thousands of miles – on Belarusian soil.
Belarus said this week that the Russian tactical nuclear
weapons would offer protection after what it called a campaign
of pressure from the United States and its allies aimed at
overthrowing Lukashenko, who has been in power for nearly three
decades.
“I am not trying to intimidate or blackmail anyone. I
want to safeguard the Belarusian state and ensure peace to the
Belarusian people,” Lukashenko said.
US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday he was
concerned about the possibility Russia would send tactical
nuclear weapons to Belarus, calling the move “worrisome”.
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‘Most terrible weapon’
In Friday’s speech, Lukashenko also called for an immediate,
unconditional ceasefire in the Ukraine war, cautioning that
Russia would be forced to use “the most terrible weapon” if it
felt threatened.
“It is impossible to defeat a nuclear power. If the Russian
leadership understands that the situation threatens to cause
Russia’s disintegration, it will use the most terrible weapon.
This cannot be allowed,” he said.
The Kremlin acknowledged Lukashenko’s ceasefire proposal and
said that Putin and Lukashenko would have an opportunity to
discuss this next week, but said that the situation in Ukraine
had not changed.
Ukraine has previously rejected Minsk’s offer to broker
peace.
Kiev says Russia continues to use Belarusian airspace for
drone and missile strikes against Ukraine and used Belarus as a
launchpad for its attack in February last year.
Minsk has said it will not enter the war, but it is
closely allied with Moscow and the two regularly hold joint
military drills.
READ MORE:
EU warns Belarus of more sanctions if Russia nuclear weapons plan proceeds
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