Russian ally Belarusian president threatens to use nukes in case of aggression

-In an interview with state news agency Belta, Lukashenko says that Belarus would join the war if Ukrainians crossed its border

MINSK, Belarus – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has said that his country would be prepared to use nuclear weapons provided by its ally Russia in response to foreign “aggression.”

“We did not bring nuclear weapons here in order to scare someone,” he added.

“Yes, nuclear weapons represent a strong deterring factor. But these are tactical nuclear weapons, not strategic ones. This is why we will use them immediately once aggression is launched against us.”

This comes amid rising tensions on Belarus’s borders with the countries of NATO.

In an interview with the state news agency Belta, Lukashenko made clear that Belarus would interfere in the war only if Ukrainians crossed its border.

He reiterated Belarus’s commitment to help its ally Russia and warned of an immediate response, including nuclear weapons, if provocation occurred.

Lukashenko rejected claims that Russian President Putin had been weakened by the mutiny of the failed Wagner mercenary group.

“Putin is now more mobilized, more cunning, and wiser. Our adversaries need to know it,” Lukashenko said, adding: “Nobody will overthrow Putin today.”

He stressed that Belarus has an interest in participating in peace talks on Ukraine because of its proximity and involvement in the region.

Moscow has used Belarus as one of its launch pads for the spring 2022 invasion.

Joint military exercises between Russia and Belarus last year have also fueled concerns that Belarusian troops could join Russian forces in the conflict.

In June, Russian nuclear warheads were reportedly delivered to Belarus as a “deterrent.”

He claimed that the Ukrainians were being “pushed by the Americans” and did not want to negotiate at present.

He said that more than 50 countries are helping Ukraine “with coordination, training, ammunition, weapons, and so on,” but “only Belarus is openly helping Russia.”

However, he said the war in Ukraine was avoidable.

Lukashenko said he was “familiar with all issues” related to Ukraine and Russia.

He claimed that he once served as a liaison between former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin.