Berlin condemns Russian nuclear weapon deployment in Belarus
Germany on Sunday condemned a decision by Russian President Vladimir Putin to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, bringing the arms closer to the European Union.
The announcement was "another attempt at nuclear intimidation by Russia", an official in the foreign office told AFP.
Germany would not allow itself to be "put off our course" by Moscow's move, the source said on condition of anonymity.
"The comparison made by President Putin to nuclear sharing in NATO is misleading and does not justify the step announced by Russia," the source said.
Belarus would also "contradict" its own international declarations to be a nuclear weapons-free zone, they said.
Putin justified the move on Saturday, saying: "There is nothing unusual here either. The United States has been doing this for decades.
"They have long placed their tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of their allies," Putin said in an interview on Russian television.
READ ALSO:
- Olaf Scholz stresses need for quick ammo supplies for Ukraine
- How the war in Ukraine has changed Germany
- German military has 'too little of everything'
Comments
See Also
The announcement was "another attempt at nuclear intimidation by Russia", an official in the foreign office told AFP.
Germany would not allow itself to be "put off our course" by Moscow's move, the source said on condition of anonymity.
"The comparison made by President Putin to nuclear sharing in NATO is misleading and does not justify the step announced by Russia," the source said.
Belarus would also "contradict" its own international declarations to be a nuclear weapons-free zone, they said.
Putin justified the move on Saturday, saying: "There is nothing unusual here either. The United States has been doing this for decades.
"They have long placed their tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of their allies," Putin said in an interview on Russian television.
READ ALSO:
- Olaf Scholz stresses need for quick ammo supplies for Ukraine
- How the war in Ukraine has changed Germany
- German military has 'too little of everything'
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.