NATO secretary-general reiterates condemnation of Russian nuclear plan for Belarus

April 28, BPN. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg condemned Russia’s plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, calling Moscow’s nuclear rhetoric “dangerous and irresponsible,” Baltic web portal Delfi reported.

Speaking remotely with Lithuanian journalists yesterday, he stressed, however, that Vladimir Putin’s announcement did not require a specific response from NATO.

“So far we haven’t seen any changes in Russia’s nuclear posture that warrants any changes in NATO’s nuclear posture,” Stoltenberg said.

Last month, Vladimir Putin said Russia was going to station tactical nuclear weapons in the allied country. The West and Belarusian democratic forces denounced the upcoming deployment.

Addressing an arms control conference in Washington earlier this month, Stoltenberg pointed to Russia suspending its participation in the New START Treaty, noncomplying with the INF Treaty, and threatening to place its nukes in Belarus.

He accused Moscow of resorting to provocative rhetoric. Such “irresponsible” actions are designed to deter NATO from supporting Ukraine, but they will not work, he said.