"Putin announces plan to station nuclear weapons in Belarus"

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, with a special storage facility set to be completed by July. Putin also revealed that Moscow had already transferred an Iskander short-range missile system to Belarus, which can be fitted with nuclear or conventional warheads. Belarus is among Russia's closest allies and helped Russia launch its initial invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The move has caused concern in the West, with the US State Department saying it will continue to monitor the implications but will not adjust its nuclear weapons strategy.