Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that Moscow would station “tactical” nuclear weapons on the territory of its ally Belarus.
The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, warned on Sunday that the EU is “ready” to impose new sanctions on Belarus if that country deploys Russian nuclear weapons on its territory.
“Belarus’ hosting of Russian nuclear weapons would be an irresponsible escalation and a threat to European security. Belarus can still stop this, it is their choice. The EU is ready to respond with further sanctions,” Josep Borrell said on Twitter.
A “dangerous and irresponsible nuclear rhetoric”
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that Moscow would deploy “tactical” nuclear weapons on the territory of its ally Belarus, a country just outside the European Union.
“Russia’s nuclear rhetoric is dangerous and irresponsible,” NATO said on Sunday.
“NATO is vigilant and we are closely monitoring the situation,” said alliance spokeswoman Oana Lungescu. “We have not seen any changes in Russia’s nuclear stance that would cause us to adjust ours,” she said.
France condemns the Russian intention
France, for its part, has condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intention to deploy “tactical” nuclear weapons on the territory of its Belarusian ally and urged Moscow to show “responsibility” and reconsider its decision, according to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Following Russia’s breach of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, ed.) that led to its disappearance and the announcement last February of Russia’s suspension from the New Start Treaty, this agreement represents an additional element of erosion of the international architecture of arms control and strategic stability in Europe,” stresses the spokesman for the Quai d’Orsay.
Paris urges Russia to “show the responsibility expected of a nuclear-armed state and reverse this destabilizing deal,” she concludes.
Sanctions against the Belarusian regime
Russian officials have repeatedly issued thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine if the conflict escalates significantly. Belarus has been led by Alexander Lukashenko since 1994 and borders Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania.
The EU announced at the end of February the extension of its sanctions against Belarus for a year over the repression of Alexander Lukashenko’s regime and its support for the Russian-led war in Ukraine.
President Alexander Lukashenko and 194 other figures close to the regime were banned from entering the EU and their assets frozen. In addition, 34 entities have been sanctioned and all European funding is banned.
Belarus is also subject to targeted economic sanctions, including restrictions in the financial sector, trade, dual-use goods, telecommunications, energy and transport.