Russia has taken Belarus as a “nuclear hostage,” a Ukrainian ruler said Sunday, following President Vladimir Putin’s announcement to deploy “tactical” nuclear weapons on his ally’s territory.
“The Kremlin has taken Belarus as a nuclear hostage,” Ukraine’s Security Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov wrote on Twitter, adding that this decision is a “step towards the country’s internal destabilization.”
The Russian president’s announcement “maximizes the level of negative perception and public rejection of Russia and Mr. Putin in Belarusian society,” Danilov added.
The Russian head of state announced on Saturday that Russia will place tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus, an allied country that has served as a gateway for the invasion of Ukraine.
“There is nothing unusual about this: the United States has been doing this for decades. It has a long history of placing its tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of its allies,” the Russian president said during an interview broadcast on Russian television.
“We have already helped our Belarusian allies. We have equipped their aircraft (…) without violating our international obligations on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Ten aircraft are ready to use this type of weapon,” Putin added please.
Belarus is not directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine, but Moscow used its territory last year on the offensive against Kiev or to carry out attacks, Ukrainian authorities said.
For Putin, this decision was motivated by London’s desire to send depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine, as recently announced by an official British source.
The Russian president has also threatened to use this type of ammunition if Kiev receives it.
Source: DN
