Russia intends to deploy its new Oreshnik missile system, recently used against Ukraine for the first time, in neighbouring Belarus as a deterrent to the West.
“These complexes will be put into service with the Russian Strategic Missile Forces and, in parallel, we will begin deploying them on the territory of Belarus,” President Vladimir Putin said in Minsk on Friday at talks with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
Putin named the second half of 2025 as the date for the deployment of what he described as a “terrible” weapon.
Russia fired the newly developed medium-range missile at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in November as a warning and deterrent.
According to Moscow, this was a reaction to the authorization for Ukraine’s use of long-range Western missiles to attack Russian territory.
Lukashenko, whose country borders Ukraine and supported its full-scale invasion by Russia in 2022, also urged Putin to station the new weapon in Belarus.
At the meeting on Friday, the two presidents additionally signed a treaty on mutual security guarantees.
With this, nuclear-armed Russia assured its neighbour of the possible use of its full armoury in the event of an existential attack from outside.
Since the start of the war in Ukraine, Putin has stationed tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, but control of the warheads remains in Moscow.
Minsk and Moscow celebrate 25 years as union state
Meanwhile, in the Belarusian capital Minsk, both states on Friday celebrated the 25th anniversary of the founding of their union state, which until now has existed mainly on paper.
However, the new treaty on security guarantees sets out the obligations for the defence and protection of the sovereignty and independence of both Belarus and Russia.
During his visit, Putin recalled that the use of nuclear weapons is laid down in Russia’s new nuclear doctrine.
According to this, Russia can also use its nuclear weapons in the event of an attack with conventional weapons and an associated threat to Russia’s existence.
Lukashenko, who is regarded as Europe’s last dictator, is holding on to power mainly thanks to Putin. The 70-year-old is running for president again in January after more than 30 years in office.