Russia controlling nukes in Belarus – Russian FM

June 25, BPN. Neither Minsk nor Moscow “violate any international obligations, including under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT),” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the ONT TV channel on June 24.

“We retain control over the weapons that will be deployed on the territory of our ally,” he said.

The United States placed its tactical nuclear weapons in five NATO countries several decades ago, Lavrov noted. “We have repeatedly urged the US to withdraw tactical nuclear weapons to its own territory in response to Washington’s calls to discuss restrictions on this type of weaponry,” he added.

“When various Western officials, including the US president and NATO representatives, say that these are absolutely unacceptable, irresponsible actions by Russia and Belarus, it only means one thing – colonial thinking,” Lavrov said. “They can do whatever they want, and we can do only what they allow.”

On June 13, Alaksandr Łukašenka said that a part of the Russian nuclear arsenal had been delivered to Belarus. Earlier he announced that he would be ready to use nuclear weapons “immediately” and without hesitation in response to aggression against his country.

On June 16, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the first nuclear warheads had arrived in Belarus. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed last month that Moscow alone would control the weapons and decide on their use.