Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - International Service: "Vladimir Putin", the President of Russia, said on Saturday evening (17th of June), that the country's deployment of nuclear bombs in Belarus is a warning to the West.

 

Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum meeting, Putin explained that Russia's deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus is a reminder to the West that it cannot impose a strategic defeat on Russia.

 

According to the Reuters news agency, he stated that Russia's tactical nuclear warheads have already been delivered to Belarus, but emphasized that there is no need to resort to nuclear weapons at this time.

 

The President of Russia stated in this regard: "As you know, we were negotiating with our ally [Belarusian President Alexander] Lukashenko to transfer some of these tactical nuclear weapons to the territory of this country; Now this has happened. The first nuclear warheads have been deployed on the territory of Belarus. We will do it completely by the end of the summer or by the end of the year."

 

According to the report, Putin said the move would be Moscow's first deployment of nuclear warheads short-range nuclear weapons that could potentially be used on the battlefield outside of Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. It is a warning to the West about arming and supporting Ukraine.

 

He added: "This is precisely as a deterrent so that all those who are thinking of imposing a strategic failure on us are not unaware of these conditions. But Moscow currently sees no need to resort to nuclear weapons, so there will be no change in Russia's nuclear posture. Such an action is possible only if the existence of the Russian government is threatened."

 

In March, the President of Russia announced that he agreed to the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, and in return pointed to the deployment of such weapons by the United States in many European countries over the past few decades.

 

Earlier, "Maria Zakharova", the spokeswoman of the Russian Foreign Ministry, emphasized that Moscow is fully committed to the principle of the inadmissibility of nuclear war, and the use of these weapons is possible only in exceptional circumstances and with a defensive aspect.