Russia plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, Putin says

 

The news that Russia plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus is causing concern in the West, as any nuclear signaling by Russian President Vladimir Putin raises fears of escalation. Putin said that Moscow would complete the construction of a special storage facility for the weapons in Belarus by the beginning of July, and that it had already transferred an Iskander short-range missile system to the country. Belarus, which helped Russia launch its initial invasion of Ukraine in 2022, is among Moscow's closest allies. The State Department has said that it will "continue to monitor the implications" of Russia's plan but will not adjust its nuclear weapons strategy.