Russia has already stationed a first batch of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, President Vladimir Putin said. Putin said his deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus was a reminder to the West that it could not inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, reported news agency Reuters.
Addressing Russia’s flagship economic forum in St Petersburg, Putin said, “I see no need for Russia to resort to nuclear weapons for now. These would only be used if Russia’s territory or state was threatened.”
Belarus is a key Russian ally and served as a launchpad for Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February last year.