Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Moscow plans to move tactical nuclear weapons to the western borders of Belarus.
The announcement comes after Finland was permitted to join NATO amid heightened tensions between Russia and Western countries.
- Russia's
ambassador to Belarus, Boris Gryzlov, on Sunday confirmed recent
statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Moscow's plans
to place tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
- Putin said that facilities capable of storing nuclear weapons would be constructed in Belarus by July. 1.
- He also noted that Russia had assisted its ally in developing modern aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
- Belarus permitted Moscow to gather forces in the country ahead of its invasion of Ukraine last year.
- Tactical nuclear weapons are intended for battlefield deployments and have shorter ranges and lower yields than other nuclear weapons.
- These weapons pose a growing threat to global security.
