In a move expected to further escalate the confrontation between Moscow and the West, the Russian ambassador to Minsk, Boris Gryzlov, revealed that his country will move its tactical nuclear weapons near the western borders of Belarus, which will put it on the doorstep of NATO member states.
He told the state television in Belarus today (Monday): "The weapons will be transferred to the western borders of our federal state and will increase the possibilities of ensuring security." He stressed that this will happen despite the noise in Europe and the United States.
Gryzlov did not specify where the weapons would be located, but confirmed that their storage facility would be completed by July 1, after which the weapons would be moved to western Belarus.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on March 26 that Moscow would deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, in one of the clearest signals about the possibility of using nuclear weapons since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine 13 months ago.
The two neighbors formally formed what is known as the "Union State", and the two countries have been in talks for years to promote integration, a process that accelerated after Minsk allowed Moscow to use the territory of Belarus to send troops to Ukraine last year.
Belarus is bordered to the north by Lithuania and Latvia and to the west by Poland, all of which are part of NATO's eastern wing. These countries received reinforcements with additional military forces and equipment after the Russian military operation in Ukraine.
The United States and other allies of Ukraine have expressed concern about the possibility of Russia sending tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, and US President Joe Biden described this as "disturbing".
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko revealed that his country will also allow Russia to place intercontinental nuclear missiles if necessary.
Meanwhile, two European officials arrived in Ukraine today, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Poland the day after tomorrow (Wednesday). In the most recent Western visit to Ukraine, German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck arrived in Kiev for political talks, accompanied by a delegation of businessmen during the visit. The visit focused on reconstruction and cooperation in the energy sector. Habeck, who also holds the position of German Economy Minister, said during his trip to Kiev that the goal is to "give hope to Ukraine" in rebuilding the country after the war, adding that investment decisions have already been taken or are about to be taken. The head of the Confederation of German Industries, Siegfried Rosform, was among the delegation of business representatives who accompanied Habeck, and described the trip as "a signal to the Ukrainians that German industry is also on their side." It is noteworthy that this is Habik's first visit to Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian war on Ukraine. On the other hand, the Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amina Jabbar, announced the arrival of the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe, Maria Boric, to Kiev, within the framework of establishing a special record to document what she called the damage caused by the Russian aggression, noting that the two sides discussed the additional steps necessary to restore justice and hold war criminals accountable, according to her expression. In parallel, Jabbar announced the arrival of UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay to Ukraine.
Okaz (Moscow) @okaz_online