Tensions Rise as Russia Considers Deploying Nuclear Weapons in Belarus

Russia's plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus have been denounced by Ukraine as a desperate Kremlin attempt to avoid military defeat and "threaten the world with nuclear apocalypse." China, without naming Russia, made clear its opposition to the planned deployment. The US and China emphasized that all nuclear states should refrain from deploying nuclear weapons outside their countries and withdraw those deployed abroad. Russia insisted that it is not transferring nuclear weapons but "operational tactical missile complexes," which will be under Russian control.