EU condemns Russia’s nuclear deployment citing 1990s memorandum

May 27, BPN. The European Union’s foreign policy chief has condemned Russia’s move to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus as dangerous and escalatory.

Josep Borrell said yesterday that it contradicted Russia’s commitments under the Budapest Memorandum, the deal by which it and others promised to respect Belarus’ independence after the country had pledged to give up its nuclear arsenal.

Borrell also recalled that Russia had signed an international statement last year affirming that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.”

“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,” Borrell said in a statement.

“Any attempt to further escalate the situation will be met by a strong and coordinated reaction,” he said.

Minsk gave up its Soviet-era nuclear weapons and joined an international nonproliferation treaty in the 1990s.

However, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in March that Russia was planning to deploy nuclear arms in Belarus, pointing out that the United States has them in several allied countries.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed this week that Moscow alone would control the weapons and decide on their use. Belarusian ruler Alaksandr Łukašenka said the transfer had already begun.