EU calls Russian nuclear deployment in Belarus “direct threat to European security”

April 4, BPN. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has said Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “newest nuclear gamble, with nuclear weapons moved to Belarus, constitutes a new escalation, and poses a direct threat to European security.”

The remarks he made after meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Brussels on April 4 were quoted on the European External Action Service website.

Borrell said that during Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Moscow, the Russian and Chinese leaders “agreed on the need to not deploy nuclear arms abroad. And some days later, Russia [announced] deployment of nuclear tactical weapons in Belarus.”

“China has a moral duty to contribute to a fair peace. They cannot be siding with the aggressor,” he said.

He added that the EU would continue to support Ukraine and “maintain the collective pressure on Russia to stop the widespread violations of international law.”

In an interview with the Rossiya 24 TV channel on March 25, Putin said that a special storage facility for tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus would be completed by July 1. The West and Belarusian democratic forces denounced this plan, while China spoke out against any nuclear wars.

On March 26, Borrell said “Belarus hosting Russian nuclear weapons would mean an irresponsible escalation and threat to European security.” In his view, Belarus “can still stop it,” as the EU “stands ready to respond with further sanctions.”