Putin says Russian tactical nukes delivered in Belarus

June 16, BPN. Russian President Vladimir Putin has told an economic forum in St Petersburg that part of the nuclear arsenal intended for Belarus has already been deployed in the country.

He described nuclear weapons as a deterrent which could be used “in theory,” if there’s a threat to Russia.

He announced that the remaining part will be deployed later this year.

Minsk gave up its Soviet-era nuclear weapons and joined an international nonproliferation treaty in the 1990s.

However, Putin announced in March that Russia was planning to deploy nuclear arms in Belarus, pointing to the United States having them in several allied countries.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed last month that Moscow alone would control the weapons and decide on their use.