'Russia Has Taken Belarus Hostage': Ukraine Slams Putin's Decision To Deploy Nuclear Weapons

Oleksiy Danilov, described it as "a move towards internal instability of the nation," adding that it increases the degree of "negative perception and public rejection" of Russia in Belarusian society.

Ukraine's Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksiy Danilov.

Source : Getty

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's senior security advisor on Sunday warned that Belarus, which according to him Moscow had "taken captive," would become unstable if tactical nuclear weapons were stationed there, news agency Reuters reported.

The decision was made public by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, intensifying a confrontation with the West and issuing a message to NATO over its military backing of Ukraine.

Although Putin claimed that the action would not violate nuclear non-proliferation commitments, the decision was not entirely unexpected, and it is one of Russia's most overt nuclear signals since the start of its invasion of Ukraine 13 months ago.

The president of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, Oleksiy Danilov, described it as "a move towards internal instability of the nation," adding that it increases the degree of "negative perception and public rejection" of Russia and Putin in Belarusian society.

"The (K)remlin took Belarus as a nuclear hostage," he wrote on Twitter.

putin’s statement about placing tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus – a step towards internal destabilization of the country – maximizes the level of negative perception and public rejection of russia and putin in Belarusian society. The kremlin took Belarus as a nuclear hostage.

— Oleksiy Danilov (@OleksiyDanilov) March 26, 2023

Putin compared his intentions to the United States stationing weapons in Europe, and stated that Russia would not hand over control of the weapons to Belarus.

"We are not handing over (the weapons). And the U.S. does not hand (them) over to its allies. We're basically doing the same thing they've been doing for a decade," Putin was quoted by Reuters in its report.

Yet, this might be Russia's first deployment of such weapons outside the nation since the mid-1990s. Analysts told Reuters that the revelation was noteworthy since Russia had previously been proud that, unlike the US, it did not deploy nuclear weapons beyond its boundaries.

Another top Zelenskiy aide dismissed Putin's proposal on Sunday, saying the Russian leader is "too predictable."

"Making a statement about tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, he admits that he is afraid of losing & all he can do is scare with tactics," Mykhailo Podolyak tweeted.

Putin (RF) is too predictable.
Making a statement about tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, he admits that he is afraid of losing & all he can do is scare with tactics...
Second. He once again states his involvement in the crime. Violating the nuclear non-proliferation treaty...

— Михайло Подоляк (@Podolyak_M) March 26, 2023

Washington, the world's other nuclear superpower, downplayed Putin's declaration and the possibility of Russia using nuclear weapons in Ukraine.

 

"We have not seen any reason to adjust our own strategic nuclear posture nor any indications Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon. We remain committed to the collective defence of the NATO alliance," a senior U.S. administration official was quoted by Reuters in its report.

According to the official, Russia and Belarus have been discussing the transfer of nuclear weapons for some time.

Tactical nuclear weapons are ones that are employed for particular benefits on the battlefield rather than those that can wipe out cities. Given the Cold War-era secrecy, it is uncertain how many such weapons Russia possesses.

(With Inputs From Reuters)