The Russian embassy in the United States has stated that Moscow and Minsk reserve the right to ensure their safety amid what they describe as a hybrid conflict waged by the United States against them. The information was reported through the Russian diplomatic department’s telegraph channel. The embassy asserts that Washington has maintained a substantial nuclear arsenal in Europe for many years and continues to pursue joint nuclear missions with NATO allies. It claims that scenarios exist for using special munitions against Russia. The embassy emphasizes that these measures are taken in accordance with international legal obligations.
In response, US President Joe Biden described the situation as highly negative and criticized the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil. Earlier statements from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko indicated that the transfer of non strategic nuclear weapons from Russia to Belarus had begun and he thanked Vladimir Putin for authorizing the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus. Separately, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu confirmed that Russia had deployed non strategic nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil and insisted that the weaponry was not transferred to the republic, with ongoing checks and determinations about its use being conducted by Russia. These developments are interpreted by Moscow and Minsk as necessary steps to deter what they describe as Western security pressure. In the official narrative, all actions align with existing international commitments and are presented as part of a broader defensive posture.