| 17 June 2023
In response to Russia's confirmation of deploying nuclear weapons in Belarus, the United States has affirmed that it has not altered its nuclear stance. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized that there are no indications of Russia preparing to use nuclear weapons, stating, "We have no reason to adjust our own nuclear posture. We don't see any indications that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon."
Blinken also expressed irony in Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to place nuclear weapons in Belarus, considering that Putin had justified his invasion of Ukraine by claiming it aimed to prevent Kyiv from acquiring such weapons.
During the annual economic forum in Saint Petersburg on Friday, Putin confirmed the delivery of Russian tactical nuclear warheads to Belarus. He clarified that this deployment, which marks the first time Russian nuclear arms have been placed outside Russia since the Soviet Union's dissolution, was intended as a warning to the West regarding its support for Ukraine. Putin stated that the warheads' delivery to Belarus would be completed by the end of the summer or year.
Despite this deployment, Putin asserted that Russia currently has no need to resort to nuclear weapons. He emphasized that nuclear weapons were designed to ensure Russia's security and existence as a state. Putin dismissed the possibility of talks with the West to reduce Russia's substantial nuclear arsenal, labeling them a non-starter.
Moreover, Putin argued that discussing the potential use of nuclear weapons lowers the nuclear threshold. He defended Russia's arsenal size, expressing disdain toward NATO countries' desire to reduce Russia's numbers. In response, he dismissively stated, "Screw them."
While Moscow's deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus is seen by analysts as an effort to consolidate military control over the country, it is not expected to escalate the situation further, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a think tank based in Washington, DC.
Turning to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Putin maintained a defiant tone, asserting that Kyiv's counteroffensive against Russian forces had not achieved significant success. He claimed that Ukrainian forces were suffering heavy losses and would soon exhaust their military equipment, relying solely on supplies provided by the West.
Putin specifically mentioned German-made Leopard tanks and warned that if Ukraine acquired US-made F-16 fighter jets, they too would be destroyed by Russian forces. He hinted at the possibility of targeting such fighter planes located outside Ukraine, cautioning that it could draw NATO further into the conflict.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed the significance of every meter of Ukrainian territory recaptured from Russian forces during the ongoing counteroffensive operation. Ukrainian troops, under Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar's guidance, are actively advancing on multiple fronts, including in the south, where they have progressed up to 2 km (1.3 miles) in each direction.
In eastern Ukraine, Russian forces are attempting to dislodge Ukrainian troops from established positions, while Ukrainian forces near the city of Bakhmut are striving to push Russian forces out from the outskirts.
The situation in Ukraine remains tense as both sides continue their military maneuvers. The deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus has added a new dimension to the conflict, raising concerns and further complicating diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis. The international community closely watches developments in the region, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
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