Current:Home > Contact-usRussia to deploy "tactical nuclear weapons" in Belarus, on Ukraine's northern border, Putin says-InfoLens
Russia to deploy "tactical nuclear weapons" in Belarus, on Ukraine's northern border, Putin says
View Date:2024-12-23 19:15:05
Russia has ratcheted up tensions with the West amid its ongoing war against Ukraine, with President Vladimir Putin saying Moscow will deploy "tactical nuclear weapons" in Belarus. The Russian leader said 10 fighter jets capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons — generally a reference to smaller weapons used for limited battlefield attacks, rather than larger, long-range "strategic" nuclear weapons — were already deployed in Belarus. Putin said Russia would also position nuclear-armed Iskander hypersonic missiles, with a range of around 300 miles, in Belarus.
The move wasn't completely unexpected. As Putin's ground war in Ukraine has struggled in recent months to make significant gains, he has repeatedly threatened to resort to nuclear weapons. But announcing a new deployment of such weapons represented an escalation in his rhetoric, and it drew quick condemnation from the West.
The Russian autocrat argued that he was merely doing what the U.S. and NATO have done for years, as the U.S.-led alliance has nuclear-armed missiles deployed in Western Europe.
NATO called that justification by Putin misleading.
- China's Xi brings Putin a major boost, but no public promise of weapons
"Russia's nuclear rhetoric is dangerous and irresponsible," Oana Lungescu, a spokesperson for the alliance, said Sunday. "Russia's reference to NATO's nuclear sharing is totally misleading. NATO allies act with full respect of their international commitments… Russia has consistently broken its arms control commitments."
"NATO is vigilant and we are closely monitoring the situation," Lungescu said in the statement, adding that the alliance had not, however, "seen any changes in Russia's nuclear posture that would lead us to adjust our own."
The Biden administration issued a similarly guarded response, with National Security Council spokesman John Kirby saying Sunday that the White House had also "seen nothing that would indicate Mr. Putin is preparing to use tactical nuclear weapons in any way whatsoever in Ukraine."
"I can also tell you that we haven't seen anything that would cause us to change our own strategic nuclear deterrent posture," Kirby said.
Ukrainian national security chief Oleksiy Danilov accused Russia of holding its small ally Belarus, which sits just north of Ukraine, "hostage" with the plan to deploy nuclear weapons in the country.
- Belarus says it's willing to host Russian nukes if its threatened
The escalating rhetoric from Putin comes as his ground war increasingly appears stalled on the muddy battlefields of eastern Ukraine. The hard-fought over city of Bakhmut — which for months has borne the brunt of the onslaught as Ukrainian forces cling onto it and Moscow throws wave after wave of soldiers and mercenaries at the front line — has been blasted beyond recognition.
The "situation" in the battle, after Russia's relentless eight-month assault, is finally "stabilizing," according to Ukraine's top army commander. Both sides have acknowledged a gruelling toll during the fight, but the latest British military intelligence assessment said Russia in particular had sustained "massive troop losses."
As the U.S. and its European allies steadily increase the flow of heavy weapons into Ukraine to help the country defend against Russia's invasion and Putin raises the tension with his announcement about nuclear weapons in Belarus, Moscow blamed an explosion deep inside Russian territory on Ukraine.
The Kremlin claimed it had downed a Ukrainian drone only about 100 miles south of Moscow on Sunday, with the unmanned aircraft purportedly crashing down to injure three people and leaving a crater 16 feet deep, with damage to nearby buildings.
Putin's latest nuclear threat, meanwhile, prompted Ukraine to demand an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, with Kyiv arguing that Moscow has now demonstrated it is "not a responsible steward" of nuclear weapons, and is only using them for intimidation.
- In:
- Belarus
- War
- Nuclear Weapons
- Ukraine
- Russia
- Vladimir Putin
- NATO
- Alexander Lukashenko
Ramy Inocencio is a foreign correspondent for CBS News based in London and previously served as Asia correspondent based in Beijing.
TwitterveryGood! (4374)
Related
- Queen Bey and Yale: The Ivy League university is set to offer a course on Beyoncé and her legacy
- Their school is about to close. Now, Birmingham-Southern heads to College World Series.
- How many points did Caitlin Clark score last night? Top pick hits dagger 3 to seal Fever's first win
- Sophia Bush Responds After New Pics With Ashlyn Harris Spark Engagement Rumors
- Lost luggage? This new Apple feature will let you tell the airline exactly where it is.
- What Travis Kelce, Hoda Kotb and More Have to Say About Harrison Butker's Controversial Speech
- National Wine Day 2024 deals, trends and recs: From crisp white wines to barrel-aged reds
- Arizona State athletic department's $300 million debt 'eliminated' in restructuring
- Lou Donaldson, jazz saxophonist who blended many influences, dead at 98
- Your Memorial Day beach plans may be less than fin-tastic: Watch for sharks, rip currents
Ranking
- New Yorkers vent their feelings over the election and the Knicks via subway tunnel sticky notes
- The Daily Money: Moving? Research the company
- Caitlin Clark reminds people she's not just a scorer: 'It's not all about the shots'
- Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Star Kyle Richards Has Been Using This Lip Gloss for 15 Years
- Young Black and Latino men say they chose Trump because of the economy and jobs. Here’s how and why
- Idaho drag performer awarded $1.1 million in defamation case against far-right blogger
- Watch our Memorial Day tribute to the military who sacrificed all to serve their country
- Walmart ends exclusive deal with Capital One for retailer's credit card
Recommendation
-
Pistons' Ausar Thompson cleared to play after missing 8 months with blood clot
-
Scott Disick Gives Update on What Mason Disick Is Like as a Teenager
-
Arizona State athletic department's $300 million debt 'eliminated' in restructuring
-
Walmart digital coupons: Get promo codes from USA TODAY's coupons page to save money
-
Hill House Home’s Once-A-Year Sale Is Here: Get 30% off Everything & up to 75% off Luxury Dresses
-
Harrison Butker Breaks Silence on Commencement Speech Controversy
-
Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce responds to Harrison Butker's commencement address
-
National Spelling Bee reflects the economic success and cultural impact of immigrants from India