dpa
Moscow/Kiev
More criticism of Russia’s plans to install nuclear-capable weapons in Belarus surfaced on Monday, but Russia brushed it off, saying the negative comments would do nothing to change its decision. “Of course, such a reaction cannot influence Russia’s plans,” government spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Monday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus on Saturday. Belarus already has 10 converted aircraft that can carry these weapons, according to information in the announcement.
Germany dismissed Putin’s announcement as “another attempt at nuclear intimidation.” Berlin considers such rhetoric irresponsible, a Foreign Ministry spokesman told a press conference in Berlin. “We will, of course, not be swayed by this in our continuation of supporting Ukraine in its self-defence,” he said. Lithuania’s President Gitanas Nauseda also condemned Moscow’s announcement.“Russian nuclear blackmail continues,” Nauseda wrote on Twitter.
Russia’s plans were once again a “complete disregard” of international agreements, he said. “The aggressor must be prevented from causing a nuclear catastrophe,” Nauseda wrote further.
Earlier, EU foreign affairs envoy Josep Borrell called on Belarus to give up its nuclear weapons and threatened sanctions in response if it did not.
“Hosting Russian nuclear weapons would mean an irresponsible escalation & threat to European security. Belarus can still stop it, it is their choice,” he wrote on Twitter.
Putin also said that Belarus will receive Iskander missiles that can be armed with nuclear warheads. He stressed that Moscow was sticking to its commitments on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.
He noted that the weapons are only located in Belarus but that Russia retains control over them. This is nothing different than what the United States does with European Union states, the Russian leader said.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and International Atomic Energy Agencychief Rafael Grossi visited a hydroelectric power plant in Zaporizhzhya. The plant plays a key role in maintaining nuclear safety at the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, Grossi said in a Twitter message.
Zelensky showed him damage to the dam. The men also discussed measures to protect the nuclear power plant, which is under Russian control about 50 kilometres away.
Grossi plans to travel to the Russian-occupied area around the downed plant in south-eastern Ukraine in the next few days for the second time since the autumn.
