Russian state news Izvestia and TASS have confirmed reports that Russia plans to send Belarus nuclear-capable Iskander-M missile systems, capable of carrying "a nuclear warhead" and promised to "retrofit Belarusian Su-25s in order to upgrade them to "carry nuclear charges".
Izvestia stated (from translation) "Vladimir Vladimirovich, we are very annoyed by the situation and the policy pursued by our neighbors. You, in general, know that this is the leadership of Poland and the leadership of Lithuania. The policy of confrontation. And you have enough from them, especially in Ukraine: recently, most of the mercenaries, as we notice, are from Poland,” Alexander Lukashenko said. - The same goes for Lithuania. Recently, there has been a growing flow of information about their plan to stop transit from Russia through Belarus to Kaliningrad, to isolate Kaliningrad. Listen, this is akin to declaring some kind of war already, such things are unacceptable in modern conditions".
"At the same time, the Belarusian leader commented in a negative way not only on the behavior of Warsaw and Vilnius but also on the US and NATO in general, which, as Lukashenka noted, conduct training flights of aircraft capable of carrying nuclear warheads. In this regard, the Belarusian president asked his colleague to consider the possibility of a mirror response to what is happening. But, as he himself emphasized, this must be done "without busting." Then he explained that Minsk does not require the transfer of nuclear weapons, but, first of all, is interested in modernizing aircraft for nuclear charges".
The paper also claimed that "the Americans" have "200 nuclear tactical ammunition" stationed in NATO-allied countries, and that 257 aircraft have been "prepared for their possible use".
"Military expert Viktor Litovkin clarified in an interview with Izvestia that the American B61 atomic bombs are deployed at bases in Turkey, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, and Belgium", Izvestia reported.
It is "against this background," the paper said, that the Russian president agreed to start modernizing the Su-25 aircraft, which are "in service in Belarus".
The paper also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that "Their additional equipment will be carried out at aircraft factories in the Russian Federation", and that the "Russian side" would begin the appropriate training of flight personnel.
"And the second. As we agreed with you, you raised the issue of this, and we have made a decision: within the next few months, we will transfer to Belarus the Iskander-M tactical missile systems, which, as you know, can use both ballistic and cruise missiles, and both in conventional and nuclear versions, the head of the Russian Federation emphasized", the report said.
The paper said, however, that Putin stated the current situation is "not even worth comparing with the Caribbean crisis of 1962" which, the paper states "was resolved safely".
"Then it came to a potential direct exchange of nuclear missile strikes. So far, there is no such tension between Moscow and Washington, between Russia and NATO," Putin reportedly said.
Izvestia stated (from translation) "Vladimir Vladimirovich, we are very annoyed by the situation and the policy pursued by our neighbors. You, in general, know that this is the leadership of Poland and the leadership of Lithuania. The policy of confrontation. And you have enough from them, especially in Ukraine: recently, most of the mercenaries, as we notice, are from Poland,” Alexander Lukashenko said. - The same goes for Lithuania. Recently, there has been a growing flow of information about their plan to stop transit from Russia through Belarus to Kaliningrad, to isolate Kaliningrad. Listen, this is akin to declaring some kind of war already, such things are unacceptable in modern conditions".
"At the same time, the Belarusian leader commented in a negative way not only on the behavior of Warsaw and Vilnius but also on the US and NATO in general, which, as Lukashenka noted, conduct training flights of aircraft capable of carrying nuclear warheads. In this regard, the Belarusian president asked his colleague to consider the possibility of a mirror response to what is happening. But, as he himself emphasized, this must be done "without busting." Then he explained that Minsk does not require the transfer of nuclear weapons, but, first of all, is interested in modernizing aircraft for nuclear charges".
The paper also claimed that "the Americans" have "200 nuclear tactical ammunition" stationed in NATO-allied countries, and that 257 aircraft have been "prepared for their possible use".
"Military expert Viktor Litovkin clarified in an interview with Izvestia that the American B61 atomic bombs are deployed at bases in Turkey, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, and Belgium", Izvestia reported.
It is "against this background," the paper said, that the Russian president agreed to start modernizing the Su-25 aircraft, which are "in service in Belarus".
The paper also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that "Their additional equipment will be carried out at aircraft factories in the Russian Federation", and that the "Russian side" would begin the appropriate training of flight personnel.
"And the second. As we agreed with you, you raised the issue of this, and we have made a decision: within the next few months, we will transfer to Belarus the Iskander-M tactical missile systems, which, as you know, can use both ballistic and cruise missiles, and both in conventional and nuclear versions, the head of the Russian Federation emphasized", the report said.
The paper said, however, that Putin stated the current situation is "not even worth comparing with the Caribbean crisis of 1962" which, the paper states "was resolved safely".
"Then it came to a potential direct exchange of nuclear missile strikes. So far, there is no such tension between Moscow and Washington, between Russia and NATO," Putin reportedly said.