Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, said in a June 16 interview with CNN that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s decision to place nuclear weapons in Belarus should be taken “very, very seriously” by the West.
Prystaiko called the nuclear weapons move “blackmail”, although Ukraine is “much better equipped to withstand this pressure”, due to a proliferation of aerial missiles and constant international support.
On June 16, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin claimed that the first batch of tactical nuclear weapons had arrived in Belarus after the announcement on May 26 to place Russian non-strategic nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory.
According to Putin, more weapons are expected to arrive in Belarus later this summer.
The White House said June 13 that there was “no indication that the movement of nuclear weapons is imminent or underway,” adding that at this time the United States sees no reason to alter their nuclear readiness in response to this movement.
The United States has also previously said it has observed “no indication that Russia is preparing to use nuclear weapons in Belarus.”
The Institute for the Study of War assessed on May 25 that it is “extremely unlikely” that Putin would use Belarusian-based nuclear warheads in Ukraine or elsewhere.
NATO called the “dangerous and irresponsible” decision, while the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell said placing Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus a “step that will lead to a further extremely dangerous escalation”.
Belarus Weekly: Minsk will trigger martial law in case of cross-border incursions
Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko says Russian tactical nukes will arrive in Belarus in “a few days”, noting that he will not hesitate to use them if Belarus “faces aggression”. Belarus does not have launch codes. A bill awaiting Lukashenko’s approval proposes to expand the r…
Maria Yeryoma
