Putin says Moscow has deal with Belarus to station nuclear weapons there

Record ID: 1717237

  • Title: Putin says Moscow has deal with Belarus to station nuclear weapons there
  • Date: 26th March 2023
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (RELEASED MARCH 25, 2023) (RUSSIAN POOL) REPORTER PAVEL ZARUBIN ASKING RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN QUESTION AT INTERVIEW (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "As for our negotiations with Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko, with Belarus, the pretext was the statement of the British Defence Secretary that they were going to deliver depleted uranium charges to Ukraine, it is still connected with nuclear technologies, it is obvious. However, even out of context of those events and this statement, Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko has been bringing up the question of deploying Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus for a long time." PUTIN SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "Alexander Grigoryevich is right. He says: 'Listen, we're your closest allies.' Why do the Americans deploy (the nuclear weapons) at their allies, on their territory, train the crews, pilots, how to use this type of weapon if needed. We agreed that we will do the same - without violating our obligations, I emphasize, without violating our international obligations on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons." PUTIN SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "We have already helped our Belarusian colleagues to modify their aircraft, the aircraft of Belarusian air force. Ten aircraft are ready to use this type of weapon. We have already transferred to Belarus our well-known, very effective (missile) complex Iskander. It can be a delivery vehicle as well. On April 3, we will start training the crews. On July 1, we will finish the construction of the special repository to store the tactical nuclear weapon in Belarus."
  • Embargoed: 9th April 2023 13:21
  • Keywords: BELARUS PUTIN RUSSIA TACTICAL NUCLEAR WEAPONS UKRAINE
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,Europe
  • Reuters ID: LVA001035926032023RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Russia has struck a deal with neighbouring Belarus to station tactical nuclear weapons on its territory but will not violate non-proliferation agreements, President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday (March 25).
    Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko had long raised the issue of stationing tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, which borders Poland, Putin told state television.
    "We agreed that we will do the same - without violating our obligations, I emphasize, without violating our international obligations on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons."
    Russia will have completed the construction of a storage facility for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus by July 1, Putin said, adding that Moscow would not actually be transferring control of the arms to Minsk.
    Russia has stationed 10 aircraft in Belarus capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons, he said, adding that Moscow had already transferred to Belarus a number of Iskander tactical missile systems than can be used to launch nuclear weapons.
    Putin made the announcement at a time of growing tensions with the West over the Ukraine war and as some Russian commentators speculate about possible nuclear strikes.
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