NATO Condemns Putin's Decision to Station Tactical Nuclear Weapons in Belarus

Facts

• NATO has slammed the weekend announcement from Vladamir Putin that the Russian president plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus. "Russia's nuclear rhetoric is dangerous and irresponsible," NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said. "NATO is vigilant and we are closely monitoring the situation. We have not seen any changes in Russia's nuclear posture that would lead us to adjust our own."¹
• The comments were echoed by US administration officials who told Reuters: "We have not seen any reason to adjust our own strategic nuclear posture nor any indications Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon. We remain committed to the collective defense of the NATO alliance."²
• In announcing the move, Putin said he was following the lead of the US, noting its nuclear weapons stationed in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey. "We are doing what they have been doing for decades, stationing them in certain allied countries, preparing the launch platforms and training their crews," Putin said. "We are going to do the same thing."³
• Meanwhile, Ukraine's government has demanded that the UN's Security Council hold an emergency meeting on the topic, stating the body must "counter the Kremlin's nuclear blackmail." Ukraine's foreign ministry said the permanent members of the UN Security Council "have a special responsibility" regarding nuclear aggression, adding that: "The world must be united against someone who endangers the future of human civilization."⁴
• Elsewhere in the conflict, Ukraine again launched a drone deep into the territory of Russia on Sunday, striking the city of Kireyevsk in the Tula region [roughly 140 miles (225 km) south of Moscow]. Russian officials said three civilians were injured in the attack.⁵
• Meanwhile, a car bomb targeted the police chief of Russian-occupied Mariupol, Mikhail Moskvin, on Monday. Moskvin was reportedly near the vehicle when it exploded and suffered a concussion, but was said to have survived the attack. Elsewhere in Donetsk, pro-Russia officials said one civilian was killed in a Ukrainian rocket attack on Monday.⁶
• In Russian attacks on Donetsk, Ukrainian officials said one civilian was killed and two more were injured in attacks on Sunday while a further two civilians were killed and 29 more were injured on Monday. Four civilians were also reported injured in Kherson in attacks over the past day. Russian attacks were also recorded in the regions of Sumy and Kharkiv with no additional reports of casualties.⁷

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²Sky News, ³Associated Press (a), ⁴Associated Press (b), ⁵TASS, ⁶DAN, and ⁷Ukrainska Pravda.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by DW. The West must not give in to Putin's nuclear rhetoric. By ratcheting up fear, Putin is hoping we back off and let him have his way in Ukraine. However, doing that would only further embolden the Russian president. We must be firm and resolute in the face of this nuclear blackmail.
• Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. Russia is simply following the lead of the US which for years has stationed nuclear weapons in the territories of its allies. Why should Russia not be inclined to do the same?

Predictions