Moscow to deliver missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads to Minsk

According to kyiv, the shots in question came from Belarus on Saturday morning, a few hours before the meeting between Belarusian Presidents Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

They spoke in Saint Petersburg on June 25, 2022. © Sputnik/Maxim Blinov/Kremlin via Reuters

Text by: RFI Follow

2 mins

Russia will deliver “ 

in the coming months

 ” to Belarus missiles capable of carrying nuclear charges, Vladimir Putin announced on Saturday June 25 while receiving his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.

This while their countries are in full tension with the West around Ukraine.

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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, in a speech broadcast by Russian television.

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

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 asked him to “ 

adapt

 ” his aircraft capable of transporting nuclear weapons.

“ 

We will agree on how to accomplish this

 ,” Vladimir Putin added.

“ 

Drawing Belarus into the war

 ”?

This exchange comes at a time when Russia and its ally have been in open crisis with Western countries since Moscow launched, with

diplomatic and logistical support from Minsk

, the military offensive against Ukraine.

Since the beginning of the war, the Russian president has several times addressed, more or less directly, the subject of Russian nuclear armament.

Western countries see it as 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.

Hours earlier,

Russian missile fire was fired at northern Ukraine

from Belarus, according to Kiev.

The latter accused Moscow of wanting to “ 

draw

 ” Minsk “ 

into the war

 ”.

During their meeting on Saturday, the two leaders 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 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 United Nations agencies specialists

 ” on this issue.

(With AFP)

 To read also: 

These Belarusians in solidarity with Ukraine

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  • Russia

  • Belarus

  • Vladimir Poutine

  • Alexander Lukashenko

  • Nuclear

  • Defense

  • Ukraine