Putin announces Russia’s withdrawal from the bilateral nuclear arms control agreement with the United States
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In an annual address to lawmakers and government officials, Lukashenko said Moscow’s plans to use nuclear weapons on its close ally’s territory would help protect Belarus, which he said was threatened by the West.
“I’m not trying to intimidate or blackmail anyone. I want to protect the Belarusian state and guarantee peace to the Belarusian people,” Lukashenko said.
While Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that the tactical missiles would remain under Moscow’s control, Lukashenko hinted that he could use them with Russia’s consent if Belarus was threatened with destruction.
ICBMs
The Belarusian leader also raised the possibility of deploying strategic nuclear weapons intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of destroying entire cities thousands of kilometers away on Belarusian soil.
Lukashenko said Belarus has enough conventional weapons to counter the threats, “but when we see that behind (the threats) is the destruction of our country, we will use everything we have.”
“If necessary, Putin and I will decide and introduce strategic weapons if necessary,” he said.