Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has intensified talks with Russia about deploying tactical nuclear weapons in his country, alleging there were plans to invade Belarus from neighbouring Poland.
Key points:
- Alexander Lukashenko called for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in the Ukraine war
- He warns Russia will be forced to use “the most terrible weapon” if it feels threatened
- Russia used Belarus as a launch pad for its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022
Mr Lukashenko said Moscow’s plans to station nuclear arms in Belarus would help “safeguard” the country, which he said was under threat from the West.
“Take my word for it, I have never deceived you,” he told the audience at an annual address to government officials on Friday local time.
“They are preparing to invade Belarus, to destroy our country.”
President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday Russia would station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, its first deployment of nuclear armaments outside its borders since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Mr Lukashenko went further, saying he and Mr Putin could decide if necessary to deploy strategic nuclear weapons — more powerful systems capable of destroying whole cities from a range of thousands of miles — on Belarusian soil.
Belarus said this week that the Russian tactical nuclear weapons would offer protection after what it called a campaign of pressure from the United States and its allies aimed at overthrowing Mr Lukashenko, who has been in power for nearly three decades.
“I am not trying to intimidate or blackmail anyone. I want to safeguard the Belarusian state and ensure peace to the Belarusian people,” Mr Lukashenko said.
US President Joe Biden said earlier this week he was concerned about the possibility Russia would send tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, calling the move “worrisome”.
Threat of ‘the most terrible weapon’
In his speech Mr Lukashenko also called for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in the Ukraine war, cautioning that Russia would be forced to use “the most terrible weapon” if it felt threatened.
“It is impossible to defeat a nuclear power,” he said.
“If the Russian leadership understands that the situation threatens to cause Russia’s disintegration, it will use the most terrible weapon. This cannot be allowed.”
The Kremlin acknowledged Mr Lukashenko’s ceasefire proposal and said that Mr Putin and Mr Lukashenko would have an opportunity to discuss this next week.
But it said the situation in Ukraine had not changed.
Ukraine has previously rejected Minsk’s offer to broker peace.
Kyiv has said Russia continues to use Belarusian airspace for drone and missile strikes against Ukraine and used Belarus as a launch pad for its invasion in February last year.
Minsk has said it will not enter the war, but it is closely allied with Moscow and the two regularly hold joint military drills.
Reuters