Biden reacts to Russia’s move of tactical nukes to Belarus – Reuters
Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko says deployment of nuclear bombs has already begun
US President Joe Biden told reporters he felt “extremely negative” on Russian tactical nuclear weapons stationed in Belarus.
Biden’s comment, which was reported by Reuters, came hours after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced that “The deployment of nuclear munitions has already begun.”
Russia should not worry about the safety of its weapons because the Belarusians, being “practical and thrifty people” will be able to protect them, Lukashenko added.
The Russian Embassy in Washington responded to the reaction of the White House by stressing that “It is the sovereign right of Russia and Belarus to ensure their security by whatever means we deem necessary in the midst of a full-scale Hybrid War unleashed by Washington against us.”
Moscow shares are “fully compliant with our international legal obligations”, the embassy said on Telegram on Saturday. Tactical nuclear weapons are not transferred to Belarus, “the control over them and the decision on their use remains with the Russian side”, It said.
“Before blaming others, Washington could use some soul-searching. The United States has for decades maintained a vast arsenal of its nuclear weapons in Europe,” Russian diplomats suggested.
Currently, US tactical nuclear weapons are present on the territory of five European NATO countries – Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced that tactical nuclear weapons would be stationed in Belarus at the end of March. He said the move was prompted by the UK’s decision to supply depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine amid the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv.
Belarus had asked its closest ally, Russia, to deploy nuclear weapons on its territory, citing aggressive Western policies towards the country and the perceived threat posed by US nuclear weapons deployed in neighboring European countries.
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Kremlin denounces Western “hysteria” over nuclear projects
Moscow and Minsk reached an agreement on Thursday allowing the stationing of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu says Russia has supplied the Belarusian military with nuclear-capable Iskander-M missiles and helped the country modify some of its fighter jets so that they can carry nuclear weapons .
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