EU condemns agreement on deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus

EU condemns agreement on deployment of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus

Ukrinform
The European Union condemns the agreement by Russia and Belarus to allow the deployment of Russian nuclear warheads on Belarusian territory, as it will lead to further extremely dangerous escalation.

That's according to a statement issued by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, Ukrinform reports.

"The decision goes against commitments which Russia has undertaken in the Budapest Memorandum, whereby Belarus eliminated all nuclear weapons from its territory, and in the Joint Statement of the Leaders of the Five Nuclear-Weapon States of 3 January 2022 that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought. We call on Russia to abide by these commitments," the statement reads.

According to Borrell, the Belarusian regime is an accomplice in Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine.

"We call on Belarusian authorities to put an immediate end to their support of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, and reverse decisions that can only contribute to heightening tensions in the region, and undermine Belarus' sovereignty," the statement said.

Borrell added that any attempt to further escalate the situation would be met by a strong and coordinated reaction.

On May 25, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu signed documents allowing for the placement of Russian tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus.

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