The EU has said it is “ready” to impose new sanctions on Belarus if the country agrees to station Russian nuclear weapons on its territory.
On Sunday, March 26, the European Union threatened sanctions against Belarus if it decides to deploy Russian nuclear weapons. The United States, for its part, claims to have “no evidence” that Moscow shipped nuclear weapons to Belarus. Franceinfo summarizes the main events of the day.
France condemns Russia’s intention to station nuclear weapons in Belarus
France on Sunday condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intention to station “tactical” nuclear weapons on the territory of its Belarusian ally and urged Moscow to show “responsibility” and reverse its decision, according to a foreign ministry statement.
“This agreement represents an additional element in the 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.
Washington has “no evidence” that Moscow has transferred nuclear weapons
“We have no evidence that he kept his promise or that no nuclear weapons were transferred,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said on CBS, asking about the Russian president’s announcement that Moscow would deploy tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus.
He also stressed that nothing at that point had caused the United States to “change (its) position on strategic deterrence.”
The EU is threatening Belarus with new sanctions if it harbors Russian nuclear weapons
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.
Kiev calls for UN meeting to end Russia’s ‘nuclear blackmail’
Ukraine on Sunday convened an emergency UN Security Council meeting to counter Russia’s “nuclear blackmail” after Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow would deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus.
“Ukraine expects effective measures to counter the Kremlin’s nuclear blackmail from Britain, China, the United States and France,” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement as permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Russia “took Belarus as a nuclear hostage,” accuses Kiev
Ukraine on Sunday accused Russia of taking Belarus “hostage” after Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow would deploy “tactical” nuclear missiles on its ally’s territory just outside the European Union. Ukrainian Security Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov added that Vladimir Putin’s decision was a “step towards internal destabilization of the country”.
Moscow’s announcement “maximizes the level of negative perception and public rejection of Russia and Vladimir Putin in Belarusian society,” Oleksiï Danilov also argued.