Russia has sent nuclear weapons to Belarus, will retaliate against any attack by Ukraine

President Vladimir Putin confirmed on June 16 that Russia had deployed tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, saying it was a reminder that the West could not inflict a strategic defeat on Moscow, Reuters reported.

Moscow has no need to use nuclear weapons

Speaking at Russia's top economic forum in St Petersburg, Mr Putin said Russia's tactical nuclear warheads had been transferred to close ally Belarus.

"As everyone knows, we are negotiating with our ally, [Belarusian President Alexander] Lukashenko, that we will transfer part of these tactical nuclear weapons to the territory of Belarus. This has already happened," Mr. Putin said.

President Putin says Ukraine has no chance of success

According to Mr. Putin, Russia has only just delivered the first nuclear missiles to Belarus, and the parties will complete this work by the end of the summer or the end of this year. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko confirmed this information on June 14.

President Putin went on to say that the transition is a deterrent to those who are thinking of harming Moscow. According to him, the West is doing everything to make Russia lose its strategy in Ukraine. However, Putin said that Moscow does not need to use nuclear weapons at this time, but only when the existence of the Russian state is threatened.

Russian President Vladimir Putin at a meeting on June 16 in St Petersburg

"Nuclear weapons were created to ensure our security in the broadest sense of the word and the existence of the Russian state, but we... have no such need (to use them)," Mr Putin said.

The US has criticised Mr Putin’s decision and is closely monitoring Russia’s activities, but Washington has admitted it has not seen any signs that Moscow is preparing to use nuclear weapons.

Ukraine to receive 14 more Leopard 2 tanks?

Russia will respond to any attack by Ukraine

In another development, TASS news agency quoted Mr. Putin as saying that Russia will always respond to Ukrainian attacks. According to him, Russia will consider creating a gray zone in eastern Ukraine to isolate Kyiv's artillery.

Mr Putin said Western equipment supplied to Ukraine, such as German-made Leopard tanks, was regularly destroyed. He warned that if Kyiv received US-made F-16 fighter jets, they would suffer the same fate.

Buildings destroyed by fierce fighting in Bakhmut city (Donetsk province, eastern Ukraine) on June 15.

The Russian Defense Ministry said on June 16 that its troops had repelled several counterattacks by the Ukrainian army at various frontline locations, causing heavy losses to Kyiv's forces.

Meanwhile, Reuters on June 17 quoted a report from Ukrainian defense officials saying that the country's army is advancing deeper into the southern regions of the country. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar announced on Telegram that the army is trying to advance in several directions at the same time. In eastern Ukraine, Ms. Maliar said Russia is trying to push Ukrainian forces out of combat areas.

Quick view: Russian campaign day 477, counterattacking Ukraine in the face of great challenges, what did the US general say?

In another development, Interfax news agency quoted a statement from Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom as saying that International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi is expected to visit Moscow next week. The visit to Russia follows Grossi's trip to Ukraine to assess the situation at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Safety concerns at the plant have been heightened following the collapse of the Kakhovka hydroelectric dam in Kherson Oblast on June 6. The Zaporizhzhia plant relies on water from the Kakhovka reservoir to power its turbines.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/nga-da-gui-dan-hat-nhan-cho-belarus-se-tra-dua-moi-don-tan-cong-cua-ukraine-185230617085839882.htm