"Controversy Surrounds Putin's Plan to Station Nuclear Weapons in Belarus"

Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin's plan to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, calling it a step towards destabilizing the country. Putin likened his plans to the US stationing its weapons in Europe, and said Russia would not be transferring control of the weapons to Belarus. The move is one of Russia's most pronounced nuclear signals since the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine 13 months ago. The US played down concerns about Putin's announcement and the potential for Moscow to use nuclear weapons in the war in Ukraine.