“Within the next few months”: Putin announced the decision to transfer the Iskander-M complexes to Belarus

Russia will transfer Iskander-M missile systems to Belarus, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during the open part of the talks with his counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.

“As we agreed with you, you raised the issue of this, we have made a decision: within the next few months we will transfer to Belarus Iskander-M tactical missile systems, which, as you know, can use both ballistic and cruise missiles. missiles, both conventional and nuclear," Putin said.

Along with this, the Russian leader proposed to retrofit Belarusian Su-25 aircraft at the facilities of Russian aviation enterprises. 

“They could be upgraded.

True, this modernization should be carried out at aircraft factories in Russia, but we will agree on how to do this.

And, accordingly, start training the flight personnel, ”the president said.

The details of this joint work, Putin added, should be entrusted to the defense ministries and chiefs of general staffs.

Thus, Putin responded to Lukashenka's words about the recent intensification of the confrontational policy of Minsk's neighbors, in particular, the dispatch of Polish mercenaries to Ukraine and Lithuania's plans to stop transit from the Russian Federation through Belarus to Kaliningrad. 

The Belarusian leader also drew Putin's attention to the training flights of NATO aircraft with nuclear warheads.

In response, the Russian President noted that 200 US nuclear warheads and aviation are stored in Europe, ready to transport them.

Also on russian.rt.com “We are obliged to take care of unconditional security”: Putin on the transfer of Iskander-M complexes to Belarus

“Indeed, in Europe, the Americans have 200 nuclear tactical ammunition, mostly atomic bombs, 200 in six European countries that are members of NATO's North Atlantic bloc.

257 aircraft have been prepared for their possible use, ”Putin said.

At the same time, the Russian leader expressed confidence that there is no need to mirror NATO's actions in terms of training flights.

At the same time, he emphasized the overall importance of ensuring security.

“But I completely agree with you that we are obliged to take care of the unconditional provision of our security, the security of the Union State, and maybe other CSTO countries,” the Russian leader noted.

On the situation with the supply of fertilizers and food

At the beginning of the meeting, Putin told Lukashenko that he intended to discuss the concerns raised by a number of leaders of the BRICS countries related to interruptions in food supplies and rising food prices on world markets. 

In a conversation with Lukashenko, Putin drew attention to the fact that Russia and Belarus are the largest suppliers of fertilizers to the world market.

“We have 15%, in my opinion, of world trade and 25% for some types of fertilizers - this is a very significant volume in world markets.

The lack of fertilizer, of course, reduces the prospects for next year's harvest.

All this is very sad,” said the President of Russia.

At the same time, he stressed that an agreement had previously been reached, according to which Russia and Belarus would do everything in their power to meet the corresponding demand.

“There are, of course, problems related to ensuring security in the region, and in the world as a whole.

Many questions arise here,” Putin said.

Later, the Russian leader also spoke about the prospects for growth in the volume of food supplies from Russia.

According to him, last year this figure reached 40 million tons.

“This agricultural year, until next summer, we will be ready to supply, probably, more than 50 million tons,” the president said.