Joint Russia-Belarus nuclear exercises are an unprecedented challenge – Ukraine's Foreign Ministry

Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has described the stationing of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus and the joint nuclear exercises by the two regimes as an unprecedented challenge to the global security architecture and called for a robust response from Kyiv's international partners.

Source: a statement by Ukraine's Foreign Ministry

Details: Ukraine's Foreign Ministry stresses that joint exercises involving nuclear strike capabilities directly violate Articles I and II of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). These fundamental articles prohibit nuclear-weapon states from transferring control over technologies of mass destruction and non-nuclear signatories from receiving it.

By turning Belarus into a nuclear foothold near NATO's borders, the Kremlin is de facto legitimising the proliferation of nuclear weapons worldwide and setting a dangerous precedent for other authoritarian regimes. Such actions must be clearly and strongly condemned by all states that support the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, the ministry said.

Quote: "The militarisation of Belarus not only undermines trust in international law but also firmly cements Minsk as an accomplice in Russian nuclear blackmail.

The audacity of Moscow and Minsk, which have deliberately crossed all NPT 'red lines', cannot be left without a firm, consolidated response and systemic deterrence of both regimes by the Euro-Atlantic community and the wider world.

An effective response to the Russian-Belarusian sabre-rattling near NATO borders must include a sharp increase in sanctions pressure on Moscow and Minsk, a substantial boost in support for Ukraine – which is directly deterring both regimes from further expansion into Europe – the reinforcement of the Allied presence on NATO's eastern flank, and deeper security cooperation with Ukraine."

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