Russia to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus in July, Putin says

The deployment of Russian nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus will commence immediately after the completion of the preparation of the facilities for it on July 7-8, President Vladimir Putin said.

He made the announcement during an informal meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Sochi on June 9, Kommersant reports.

"Everything is going according to plan on the most sensitive issues that we have agreed on. As you know, on July 7-8, we will finish the preparations for the construction of the facilities and immediately begin the activities related to the deployment of the weapons on your territory," Putin said.

Vladimir Putin noted that he and Alexander Lukashenko need to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries.

"There is a lot to talk about. We couldn't be happier, but it's even unusually good,” he said.

Putin stressed that the quality of interaction and the structure of economic relations are changing in the right direction.

In turn, Alexander Lukashenko suggested Vladimir Putin considers a plan of action in the face of sanctions.

‘"I'm sure that Kazakhstan and other partners in the Eurasian Economic Union will join it," the Belarusian president added.

The two men had previously agreed the plan to deploy Russian land-based short-range nuclear missiles on the territory of Moscow’s close ally, where they will remain under Russian command.

Then Vladimir Putin said that the construction of the storage facility for tactical weapons was to be completed by July 1. Russian Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov specified that the nuclear weapons would be moved to the western borders of the Union States.

Russia has already stationed 10 aircraft in Belarus capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons and has transferred a number of Iskander tactical missile systems, which can be used to launch nuclear weapons.