During an economic forum in St. Petersburg, President Vladimir Putin confirmed on Friday that Russia had already started the transfer of nuclear weapons to Belarus, as announced in March. Putin stated that the first nuclear warheads had been transferred to Belarusian territory and that the process would be completed before the end of the summer.
The deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus is the result of an agreement announced in March between Russia and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Lukashenko allowed the use of Belarusian territory by Russia to attack Ukraine.
Putin’s March 25 announcement raised concerns about a possible escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, as Belarus is close to the borders of the European Union. Tactical nuclear weapons have significant destructive power, although their range is more limited compared to strategic nuclear weapons.
It is important to note that Agence France-Presse (AFP) was unable to attend the economic forum in St. Petersburg due to a lack of accreditation, so the information broadcast live on Russian television is the source of Putin’s statements. The transfer of nuclear weapons to Belarus represents a significant development in the geopolitical situation and raises concerns about stability in the region and the possible impact on international security.