Despite threats of sanctions from the West, Russia is sticking to the planned stationing of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. And while experts see it primarily as an attempt to intimidate the West with psychological warfare, Vladimir Putin’s nuclear arsenal should not be underestimated. If they were stationed in Belarus, major cities in Europe would also come within range of the nuclear missiles…
The “Iskander” missiles can be equipped with nuclear warheads and officially have a range of 500 kilometers, extending even from the furthest corner of Belarus only to Warsaw, but the secret services believe that the missiles can now go much further to fly. Up to 2,500 kilometers should be possible, and that would mean that not only Vienna or Berlin, but even Rome would become potential targets.
Putin: “We do nothing but the US”
Putin announced the stationing on Saturday. According to them, Belarus already has ten converted aircraft that can carry these weapons. The Russian president had also stressed that Moscow would honor its nuclear non-proliferation commitments. They would only be stopped in Belarus, Russia would not relinquish control – and in EU countries would do nothing but the US.
After voluntarily surrendering its nuclear weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Belarus is now receiving nuclear missiles for the first time since the 1990s. In Minsk, ruler Alexander Lukashenko, who is politically and economically dependent on Putin, had already asked for this before the Russian war against Ukraine. He also had the constitution amended, which no longer prescribes nuclear-weapon-free status. According to Putin, weapons training should begin next Monday and nuclear missile depots should be completed by July 1.
EU leaders threaten sanctions
The announcement caused horror in the EU. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell had called on Belarus to give up nuclear weapons and otherwise threatened sanctions. Borrell criticized the Russian plans as “irresponsible escalation” and a threat to European security. Poland’s Minister for Europe, Szymon Szynkowski, also spoke of an “escalation”, but at the same time called for a “calm response” from the West.
Source: Krone
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