Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced the date when Russian tactical nuclear weapons will be deployed to Belarus.
This move by Russia was interpreted as a step in response to NATO's move to expand the alliance with Finland and Sweden.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that Russian tactical nuclear weapons will begin to be deployed in Belarus after 7-8 July.
Putin met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Sochi. In his speech at the beginning of the meeting, Putin stated that they would talk about security and economic issues.
Pointing out that relations in this direction have developed quite well, Putin stated that the developments in security are stable and even good.
Pointing out that the two countries are in good cooperation in the field of security, Putin, referring to the tactical nuclear weapons that he previously announced would be sent to Belarus.
"Everything is going as planned on the most sensitive issues we have agreed upon. On July 7-8, the preparations of the relevant facilities will be completed and we will immediately begin the measures for the deployment of the relevant types of weapons in Belarus. So everything is according to plan, everything is stable," Putin said.
In a statement in March, Putin stated that NATO has planted tactical nuclear weapons in other countries and announced that Russia will also place the said weapon in Belarus.
Recalling that they had delivered the "Alexander" high-precision missile systems to Belarus, Putin announced that the said systems would be equipped with tactical nuclear weapons.
While Putin's statement fell as "last minute" information to international agencies, Western media pointed out that the decision in question coincided with the NATO Summit to be held in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, on July 11-12.
Military experts in the West interpret Putin's move to Belarus as a counterattack to NATO's move to expand the alliance with Finland and Sweden.
SWEDEN ALLOWS NATO TO DEPLOY SOLDIERS ON ITS LAND
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced that they have allowed the temporary deployment of NATO troops in the country.
In a joint article written by Kristersson and Defense Minister Pal Jonson, he stated that Russia continues to pose a threat to them.
It was reported that the Swedish government has decided that the military can carry out preparations with NATO member states to enable future joint operations.
In the article, "Russia is still a threat to us. In case of crisis or war, we must be able to quickly bring the military resources of other nations into our region. As the Swedish government, we allowed NATO troops to be in our country temporarily without being a member of the alliance," it was stated.