The European Union has warned that transferring Russian nuclear weapons to Belarus could lead to a more dangerous escalation.

The European union It was confirmed this Friday Russian nuclear weapons transfer leading to an expansion towards Belarusian territory “Very Dangerous” He also stressed that “any attempt” to escalate the situation would be met with a “resolute and coordinated response” from allies.

High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy, Joseph BorrellIt has pointed out that the move is against the Budapest Memorandum, in which the parties pledged to eliminate all nuclear weapons from their territories, and the January 2022 Joint Declaration signed by China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States as the five nuclear powers.

“The Belarusian regime is complicit in Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war against Ukraine. We call on the Belarusian authorities to immediately end their support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and reverse the decision, which will contribute to rising tensions in the region and undermine Belarus’ sovereignty,” he said in a statement.

President of Belarus Alexander LukashenkoOn Thursday, his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, confirmed to him the “beginning of the transfer of nuclear weapons” from Russia to Belarus within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Forum in Moscow.

Russian and Belarusian Defense Ministers, Sergei Shoigu Y Viktor Zreninrespectively, signed a series of documents establishing the procedure to be followed after a meeting in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, on Thursday.

Construction of continuous storage facilities for these types of weapons is expected to be completed by July 1. Moscow has already provided Minsk with an Iskander missile defense system capable of carrying nuclear warheads, while helping to train Russian forces and use “special munitions”.

Regulates action Agreed earlier By the Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko. Putin previously announced in March that his country plans to deploy relatively short-range, low-yield tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus. The deal was signed as Russia prepares for a Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Russian and Belarusian officials consider the move motivated by hostility from the West.

(with information from EP and AP)

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