Putin Says Russia to Place Tactical Nuclear Arms in Belarus

  • Planes, missiles readied in Belarus, Russian president says
  • US doesn’t see reason to adjust strategic nuclear posture
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, speaks with his Belarus counterpart Alexander Lukashenko at the State Russian Museum in Saint Petersburg in December. Photographer: Alexey Danichev/AFP/Getty Images
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President Vladimir Putin said Russia is preparing to station tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus, escalating a confrontation with the US and its allies over the war in Ukraine.

Moscow isn’t handing control of the weapons to Belarus, and won’t be in breach of its non-proliferation obligations under an agreement with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Putin said in comments broadcast on state television Saturday.