02:56Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that forthcoming drills involving tactical nuclear weapons were 'scheduled work' and 'ordinary training', speaking alongside Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow on Thursday.
"Since tactical nuclear weapons are deployed on the territory of Belarus, this time we offered our friends and allies; and the President of Belarus [Alexander Lukashenko] asked us to take part in one of the stages of this exercise. We hold them regularly. This time they are being conducted in three stages. In the second stage, our Belarusian colleagues will join our joint actions. A corresponding instruction has been given to the defence ministries and general staffs," the Russian leader added.
Lukashenko added that they had 'decided to synchronise and hold the second and third stages together'
"Vladimir Vladimirovich correctly emphasised that this is not the first time. This is our third training session. There were probably dozens of trainings in Russia; so we synchronised," he said.
In March 2023, Putin announced an agreement with Lukashenko to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in the country. The Russian leader claimed it was similar to what he said the US had been doing 'for decades' and would not violate international obligations. Washington accused Russia of 'irresponsible rhetoric'.
Last August, Lukashenko claimed that the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus was an appropriate response 'to the accelerated militarisation of Eastern Europe and the growing military activity of the United States and NATO'.
'Scheduled work' - Putin on tactical nuclear weapons exercises
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that forthcoming drills involving tactical nuclear weapons were 'scheduled work' and 'ordinary training', speaking alongside Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow on Thursday.
"Since tactical nuclear weapons are deployed on the territory of Belarus, this time we offered our friends and allies; and the President of Belarus [Alexander Lukashenko] asked us to take part in one of the stages of this exercise. We hold them regularly. This time they are being conducted in three stages. In the second stage, our Belarusian colleagues will join our joint actions. A corresponding instruction has been given to the defence ministries and general staffs," the Russian leader added.
Lukashenko added that they had 'decided to synchronise and hold the second and third stages together'
"Vladimir Vladimirovich correctly emphasised that this is not the first time. This is our third training session. There were probably dozens of trainings in Russia; so we synchronised," he said.
In March 2023, Putin announced an agreement with Lukashenko to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in the country. The Russian leader claimed it was similar to what he said the US had been doing 'for decades' and would not violate international obligations. Washington accused Russia of 'irresponsible rhetoric'.
Last August, Lukashenko claimed that the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus was an appropriate response 'to the accelerated militarisation of Eastern Europe and the growing military activity of the United States and NATO'.
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that forthcoming drills involving tactical nuclear weapons were 'scheduled work' and 'ordinary training', speaking alongside Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko in Moscow on Thursday.
"Since tactical nuclear weapons are deployed on the territory of Belarus, this time we offered our friends and allies; and the President of Belarus [Alexander Lukashenko] asked us to take part in one of the stages of this exercise. We hold them regularly. This time they are being conducted in three stages. In the second stage, our Belarusian colleagues will join our joint actions. A corresponding instruction has been given to the defence ministries and general staffs," the Russian leader added.
Lukashenko added that they had 'decided to synchronise and hold the second and third stages together'
"Vladimir Vladimirovich correctly emphasised that this is not the first time. This is our third training session. There were probably dozens of trainings in Russia; so we synchronised," he said.
In March 2023, Putin announced an agreement with Lukashenko to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in the country. The Russian leader claimed it was similar to what he said the US had been doing 'for decades' and would not violate international obligations. Washington accused Russia of 'irresponsible rhetoric'.
Last August, Lukashenko claimed that the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus was an appropriate response 'to the accelerated militarisation of Eastern Europe and the growing military activity of the United States and NATO'.