Putin and Lukashenko want Belarusian aviation to be able to carry nuclear weapons

Russia will deliver missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads to Belarus “in the coming months,” the president announced on Saturday. Vladimir Putin receiving his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenkoin full tension with the West over Ukraine.

“In the coming months we are going to transfer to Belarus Iskander-M tactical missile systems, which can use ballistic or cruise missiles, in their conventional and nuclear versions,” Putin said at the beginning of his interview with Lukashenko in St. Petersburg broadcast by the Russian television.

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In remarks that could further deteriorate relations between Moscow and Western countries, Putin and Lukashenko also indicated that they want to modernize Belarusian aviation so that it is capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

“A lot of Su-25 (aircraft) are in service with the Belarusian air force. They could be improved in an appropriate way. This modernization must be carried out in the aircraft factories in Russia and the training of personnel will begin accordingly,” Putin declared, after Lukashenko asked him to “adapt” his planes capable of carrying nuclear weapons.

“We will agree on how to accomplish this,” the Russian president added.

This interview takes place at a time when Russia and its ally Belarus are in an open crisis with the West since Moscow launched, with the diplomatic and logistical support of Minsk, a military offensive against Ukraine.

Since the beginning of this operation, Putin has repeatedly addressed, more or less directly, the issue of Russian nuclear weapons, something that Western countries see as threats aimed at dissuading them from supporting kyiv.

Belarus, a country that borders Ukraine and several NATO members, announced last month that it had purchased Iskander systems, capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

In their interview on Saturday, Putin and Lukashensko also discussed the situation in the fertilizer market. Russia and Belarus are among the world’s leading producers, but they say Western sanctions on them in relation to Ukraine have affected their ability to export, amid growing concerns about global food security.

With Lukashenko, “we agreed to do everything we can to meet the needs of our consumers and our customers” in terms of fertilizers, Putin said, adding that Russia is “in close contact with specialized United Nations agencies” on the issue.

Source: Elcomercio

Ronald Payne

I, Ronald Payne, am a journalist and author who dedicated his life to telling the stories that need to be said. I have over 7 years of experience as a reporter and editor, covering everything from politics to business to crime.