Russia will deliver "in the coming months" to Belarus missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads, Vladimir Putin announced on Saturday while receiving Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, in full tension between their countries and the West around the Ukraine.

"In the coming months, we will transfer to Belarus Iskander-M tactical missile systems, which can use ballistic or cruise missiles, in their conventional and nuclear versions," Vladimir Putin said at the start of his interview with Alexander. Lukashenko in Saint Petersburg broadcast by Russian television.

Crisis with the West

In statements that risk further straining relations between Moscow and Western countries, the two leaders have also indicated that they want to modernize the aviation of Belarus to make it capable of transporting nuclear weapons.

“Many Su-25 (aircraft) are in service with the Belarusian army.

They could be improved appropriately.

This modernization must be carried out in aircraft factories in Russia and the training of personnel must begin in accordance with this,” Vladimir Putin declared, after Alexander Lukashenko had asked him to “adapt” his aircraft capable of transporting nuclear weapons.

“We will agree on how to accomplish this,” Vladimir Putin added.

Fertilizer market

This exchange comes at a time when Russia and its ally Belarus have been in open crisis with Western countries since Moscow launched, with diplomatic and logistical support from Minsk, a military offensive against Ukraine.

Since the beginning of the offensive, Vladimir Putin has several times addressed, more or less directly, the subject of Russian nuclear armament, Western countries seeing in it threats aimed at dissuading them from supporting kyiv.

Belarus, bordering Ukraine and several NATO member countries, had already announced last month that it had purchased Iskander systems, capable of carrying nuclear charges.

During their meeting this Saturday, Putin and Lukashenko also discussed the situation of the fertilizer market.

Russia and Belarus are among the world's top producers, but say Western sanctions against them in connection with Ukraine have affected their export capacities, amid growing concern over global food security.

With Alexander Lukashenko, "we have agreed to do everything possible to meet the needs of our consumers and our customers" in terms of fertilizers, Vladimir Putin said on Saturday, adding that Moscow was "in close contact with the agencies of the Specialized Nations” on this issue.

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War in Ukraine: Moscow will deliver "in the coming months" to Belarus missiles capable of carrying nuclear charges...

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