The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia issued a public statement through its official spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, noting that the reactions from several Western countries to Russia’s decision to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus seemed confusing. The remarks were published by the ministry and circulated to a broad audience.
Zakharova suggested that Western reactions may be aimed at an audience unfamiliar with long-standing practice by Western partners who, in her view, have often positioned themselves as mentors in this area. She underscored a history in which Western powers have repeatedly framed nuclear-related arrangements as part of broader security policies.
In her comments, the spokesperson reminded readers that NATO has long incorporated the concept of joint nuclear missions, with deployments that include U.S. nuclear weapons stationed in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey. This context, she argued, is a key element in understanding current discussions about missile defense and allied deterrence strategies across Europe.
In relation to President Putin’s remarks, the administration emphasized that Russia has not transferred nuclear weapons to Belarus. Instead, the plan involves the possible deployment and training related to tactical nuclear capabilities, a step the Kremlin framed as consistent with longstanding U.S. practice in Europe. The statement stressed a distinction between storing and deploying weapons within allied borders and the broader security arrangements that have shaped decades of NATO policy. [citation: official Moscow briefing]